Do you enjoy hearing birds sing? This week I saw a beautiful hummingbird flying around a flowering bush. I stopped and watched as the hummingbird landed on a branch. As it turned its head side to side, its beautiful gorget (shiny neck feathers) shimmered pink in the sunlight. I slowly moved closer, wondering if the bird would stay in the bush or fly off. To my delight, it not only stayed, but flew right toward me. I think it was as curious about me as I was about it.
The hummingbird hovered a couple of feet in front of my face before returning to its branch. I stayed for a few minutes longer, watching the hummingbird as it flew around the bush, landed, and hovered in front of me once more. At one point, it landed on its branch and began singing a beautiful melody.
Hummingbirds fly very quickly. But it’s during these sweet moments when they land that we have the opportunity to admire their beautiful colors and long beaks.
Have you ever wondered why different birds have different beaks? Some are short and stubby. Others are long and narrow. Some are sharp for fishing. And the aptly named “crossbill” even has a bill that crisscrosses to help it pry open pinecones.
God’s creativity shines in the many birds he designed. He gave them the right tools to get the food they need. A hummingbird’s beak is long and narrow. With this design, it can reach deep inside a flower to get at the sweet nectar inside. That nectar isn’t only tasty, it also packs lots of energy to fuel the hummingbird’s flight. A short, stubby beak on a hummingbird wouldn’t do the trick. God caringly equipped hummingbirds and all birds with what they need, just as he gives us everything we need.
When we need something, we can take our requests to God. He knows what is best for us. Sometimes he will change our heart to see what we truly need. Other times he will provide what we ask him for. And we can know from his Word that he supplies us with everything we need for life and to live in his ways. So when you see a bird eating seed, poking the sand for insects, slurping worms from the ground, or a hummingbird sipping nectar, remember God knows what we need. And that’s something to sing about!
