Birds

Since I was young I have always been fascinated with birds. In third grade I read every book in the library on birds. I first had a parakeet ( I didn't take care of that one very well). Then my dad brought me home a cockateil (it was his partner's daughter and they didn't want it anymore). I then bought my favorite cockatiel Snickerdoodle. I have since become intrigued and love hummingbirds. I have felt often that I have received "Tender Mercies" as a hummingbird will remind me not to worry about the past or future, but enjoy the beauty of the moment.

A couple weekends ago we had a Relief Society conference in our stake. They had several classes we could attend, and one I chose taught me another thing about birds. She started by sharing the scripture in Matt: 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" She shared that our Heavenly Father is aware of our every need, and if but listen to Him we will be guided, we need not worry, but do. She then went onto talk about birds and how strong and frugal they are. It was interesting to reflect. She talked about their nests. Again another part of birds that has intrigued me. She said what do birds build their nests from. They use the resources available to them. They do not waste or become discouraged because they don't have the best. Yet they build incredibly strong homes that support eggs and are sometimes used over and over.

A few years ago I had a dove build a nest in between our lights on our back patio. I loved watching this mother build her nest, then take care of her eggs, then teach her little new babies how to fly. Then this winter when all the leaves fell off the tree in the park in our neighborhood I was amazed to see several bird nests in each tree. Sheldon's comment was I wonder if they use them again next year. It's been four months since the leaves have fallen, and this week I decided I better take a picture before the leaves cover them up again. I don't think birds have lived in the nests during the winter, but I am amazed how strong they are. We have had wind (we live in Vegas), rain, and even snow this year, and more wind, cold and hot weather and these nests still stand.
I hope our home is built as strong as these birds nest. Not the physical structure, but our emotional and spiritual structure. That when the rain falls and we have hard times, when things are tough that the love and gospel of Christ our faith will sustain us like the way the birds built their nests. The other thing I learned about these birds was their frugality. They use what is available and make the best of it. It made me reflect on how I can do better using what I have not wanting better or more. It made me also remember that if I focus on the wants that are eternal, it brings me greater joy, rather than worrying about the temporal wants.

There was another class that day about using all our resources. It motivated me again as I learned more about gardening, and making new things with the wheat in our food storage.

A few verses later in Matt 6:28,30 it states "and why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: ... Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he not provide for you, if ye are not of little faith"

I love to enjoy the moment, take walks with children, look at the clouds (Sydnee and I did that this week several times this is one of our bunny rabbits), watch the birds, notice a flower, giggle with a child, run in the rain, splash in the puddles, have snowball fights, and enjoy all the blessings God has surrounded me with instead of worrying about the blessings I want. It helps remind me that as I turn to my Heavenly Father ..that he knoweth that I have need of all things and as I seek the kingdom of God first all these things shall be added to us (Matt 6:32 & 33)