Had a happy morning today with my oldest niece and her precious daughter, a beautiful clone of her mother at that age. We ate breakfast at the Huddle House, my first time, and I enjoyed my breakfast and being with them. Taught the youngest niece how to drink the little coffee creamer milks from their little cups. I’m sure her mother frowned on that but we soared ahead and drank two of them. Having been raised on 2 percent milk, she thought the Half and Half creamer was delicious. So did I!

My children always enjoyed the little creamers in a restaurant. Chief didn’t use creamer but he’d ask for it so the children could have them. I’m so thankful for all my brothers’ children and all the times we enjoy being together. I’m blessed and I know it. They genuinely love me and include me and I appreciate that so much. When my niece walked me to the door she said, “We had a good time and you didn’t have any tears.” But I’m having poignant ones as I write this. I can still hear Chief say, “Mama, when I die go home to your family. They’ll look after you.” They have and they do and I’m grateful.

Sat out on the porch this afternoon and watched four blue jays and ten squirrels gathering acorns for their winter pantry. The blue jays are large birds, soldiers of the song birds with their pert posture and loud noisy calls that can be heard all over the neighborhood. Their plumage so pretty in its shades of blues and lavenders and white and grays. The blue jays wear bold black necklaces and perky crests. Their blue tail feathers are barred with black, sky-blue, and white. They are so handsome, beautiful to watch in flight when the sun kisses their wings. I’ve been mezmorized all afternoon watching them.

The blue jays, who never cross the street to my bird feeders, have been in my yard now for two days. I’ve been studying them, watching them as they hopped around the yard picking up acorns, taking them back across the street, hiding them away for the winter, quickly burying them in the ground or pushing them under the vegetation and leaves. Research says blue jays can carry five acorns at one time. They carry one in their mouth, one in their beak, and up to three in their gular pouch in their throat. I watched one of the birds pick acorns off a limb this afternoon. One blue jay gathers 3,000 to 5,000 acorns in a single autumn. They keep reforesting the oak trees. We need to cultivate their work ethic.

I did a little research late afternoon to see which birds were mention in Bible scripture — doves, ravens, eagles, sparrows, owls, pelicans, quails, vultures, storks, roosters, and hawks. Eagles are mentioned thirty times in scripture to symbolize strength and divine protection. Isaiah 40:31 reads, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” I think God covers us with his love and grace like a mother bird shelters her babies. God protects us and comforts us during the storms of life. He is both nurturing and protective, loving us unconditionally. “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed,” Psalm 57:1. “Because you are my helper, I sing in the shadow of your wings,” Psalm 63:7.

God loves and cares for the birds. When the birds are singing loudly in the early mornings I feel they are singing their praises and prayers of gratitude to God. Psalm 59:16 says, “Love the Lord, the mornings, and the singing of the birds.” God’s sun warms the birds wings and provides for their needs. Bible scripture in Matthew talks of the little sparrows, small and insignificant, yet God tends to them lovingly. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.” The sparrows show us God cares for all his creation. No one’s life is too insignificant for God’s love and attention.

“Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.” — Rabindranath Tagore