Pondered on the porch today perched in the swing watching the beautiful songbirds flitting around, happily singing their prayers of thanksgiving for the glorious sunshine and the freshly filled bird feeders. Penelope was taking a nap in her play pen, snuggled under a cardinal blanket. Her blankets were in the washer and she absconded with my favorite lap blanket, pulled it out of my lap.

Every day since Chief died I’ve looked for a “happy,” a bright spot of unexpected happiness of being alive. Today I saw the first goldfinch visitor of the winter sitting on top of a bird feeder pole, handsome fellow, fawn brown and black with yellow streaks, my “happy” of the day. Been watching for the goldfinches, knew it was getting close to time for their visits. Those little birds have a voracious appetite. I’ll be buying 40 pounds of seed a week when the flocks pass through.

Goldfinches are the Lord’s little creations and he painted their plumage beautifully. The goldfinch represents the human soul and signifies happiness and joy. Biblical legend reads a goldfinch flew over Jesus while he was carrying his cross, pulled a thorn from Jesus’ brow, staining its face red with Jesus’ blood. Goldfinches in art and literature are sometimes illustrated with a red patch on their heads in remembrance of this.

Matthew 6:26-33 reads, “God feeds the birds of the air, even though they don’t plant, harvest, or store food. Are you not much more valuable than they?” We shouldn’t worry about our life when we seek God’s guidance. Just as he feeds the tiny songbirds he’ll provide for our spiritual needs. He knows the path we’ll trod before we take the first step. “God doesn’t ask you to understand, comprehend or figure it out… He just asks us to pray, seek, and trust,” Isaiah 55:8. God listens when we pray, we listen when God speaks, and when we have faith and believe, God works.

My door bell rang tonight, Penelope set off her barking alarm, and when I peeped out the door I saw my nephew’s two sons at the door smiling happily. They both have the most genuine smiles, lights up their young faces, puts sparkles in their eyes. The boys were each holding a bluebird house with a car tag roof. They had crafted the bird houses for me and I was thrilled by the gift. Now I have a two “happy” day. Thanks, guys!

Thomas Jefferson said, “The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.” I feel that way exactly!

“A happy family is but an earlier heaven.” — George Bernard Shaw