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Welcome to the Dorie's Stories {devotional} Blog!
So it's possible my husband and I have had a few discussions about bird-watching. There may or may not be a bird-watching guide in my online shopping cart right now. We have had talks about renovations to our bird bath and the proper placement of the hummingbird feeder.
This is when I start to think maybe we should do something that doesn't make us feel like we are aging. Like go skateboarding. Something like that.
This devotional story was inspired by our love of birds, especially the red ones, but it is hopefully way more interesting than it sounds...in case you are not into bird-watching at all.
From my book, Hope Looks Good on You!: a Comedian's Joy-inducing Daily Devotional for Women . . .
Chapter 9: Bird-sitting Services
We have a bird couple living in our backyard. Two red cardinals, one is more colorful...we decided she must be the wife! Although I’m sure there are expert bird watchers who might correct us, we are sticking with it.
As we were packing for a trip overseas, I was stressed about all of the things we needed to do to be sure that we could leave for three weeks. Escaping the chaos for a few minutes, I sat outside and noticed our bird couple swoop down from the trees onto the bird bath.
Instead of just enjoying the peaceful moment, I started to add them to my list of worries and actually had the crazy thought — do we need a bird sitter?
I knew that didn’t make sense. I had never seen commercials or billboards for backyard bird-sitting services. That being said, I do not pack or prepare for trips in a way that makes sense to a normal person.
I don’t just have a simple packing list that I check off...I pick up every item in my home and ask myself the question, “Should I bring this?” Then, I add it to my checklists. I have so many checklists that I have a master checklist of all my checklists.
I have lists of what I need to buy, what I need to do, what I will need to buy when I get there, last-minute to do lists, last-minute packing lists, a list of all the bags we packed in case we forget what we packed — it’s a lot of lists.
I have also developed a fail-proof system so that I will never be without something that I
need on a trip at any time. It goes like this: if I have ever needed something on a trip that I didn’t have packed, it goes on the master packing list to be packed for every trip until the end of time.
This practice has led to the forever-packing of an arm sling and a can opener.
Things like that.
I even pack an empty bag in case I end up with more stuff than I started with.
I basically pack luggage in my luggage.
I also enjoy putting all liquids in separate plastic baggies because there was a leak that one time. The fact that I started worrying about the possibility of needing bird-sitting services is not sounding as crazy anymore, is it?
It was in that moment that God spoke to my heart that I don’t need to live in worry. He will take care of me just like He will take care of these birds.
I don’t need to do anything for them. I don’t need to pack for them or ask someone to
watch them for us or even put out food in little piles for them. God takes care of them...just like in the verse about the sparrows.
“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” Matthew 6:26 NLT
I needed this reminder not to worry. I deal with worry often. Especially as a mom, I worry about my children and their future. Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I feel the anxiety like it’s sitting on my chest.
It is in these moments that I remember that God’s Word says that we are not alone.
I sometimes even picture Him holding me like a child...the Bible talks about Him calming our fears and singing songs over us. I envision Him at our bedside singing to us like a mother would sing a lullaby to her child.
“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 NLT
Psalms describes how He collects our tears in a bottle. Can you picture Him gently rubbing the tears off of our faces and bottling them?
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalms 56:8 NLT
He wants you to know today that He is with you and will walk with you through hard times. You don’t need to worry.
God cares for you more than the birds, He will take care of you and what you need.
What do you worry about?
Take time now to give it over to God and let the truth sink in that you are not alone. He is always with you and He will provide for all your needs, even the non-bird ones.
Reflect & Journal:
I am a visual person...take a minute and draw your best bird as a reminder that God cares for the birds and cares for you so much more — go ahead and make it a bird couple. . . .
I hope you enjoyed the devotional excerpt! Feel free to share it with someone you think would enjoy a devotional story involving trying to find a sitter for our backyard birds and how God does that already and that we don't need to worry because He cares for us even more.
Here’s the link to share:
With hope & joy, Dorie Mclemore
P.s. next time, I’m planning to post another brand new devotional story I wrote for my next (currently unnamed) book! Make sure you are subscribed to get the notification in your inbox! P.p.s. If you want a copy of the full devotional book, Hope Looks Good on You!, use the button below!
P.p.s. I have had the incredible opportunity to connect with Kerrie Oles and Unlocked Ministries in a special way! Her ministry reaches out to women in prisons, halfway houses, and those in group homes who are survivors of domestic violence or sex trafficking to give them "Boxes of Hope." If you would like to get involved by donating my devotional books to this ministry, please click on the box below:
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