Today is just glorious! I’ve been on the porch perched in the swing for hours enjoying the breezes and the deep azure sky. Not a cloud to be seen. The neighborhood’s and my wind chimes have been serenading me all day with fall symphonies. As the sun creeps across the porch she warms my legs and kisses Penelope’s back. I pulled Penelope in her playpen into the shade and she promptly went back to sleep. My yard is full of cardinals and purple finches flittering around the bird feeders, drinking from the bird baths.

After supper I sat in the swing and watched twilight call forth the darkness of night. Mother Nature washed the heavens of the horizon in pale grapefruit watercolors and the sun rolled down bright as a silver dollar. Father Sky went to wake the moon and found him half awake already in his assigned place in the night sky pageant. Father Sky then flung the twinkling stars high into the darkness to help Mr. Waxing Gibbous Moon light the night travelers’ paths.

I’ve enjoyed watching the birds today thinking about them being messengers from heaven, symbols of joy and hope, serving as a bridge from earth to heaven. The beautiful little birds start their days with song thanking God for the colors in the wondrous sunrise. The songbirds are busy all day just surviving, searching for food, watching out for hawks and cats in my yard, building nests, raising their young, finding shelter when the storms come.

Scripture in Genesis reads, “And God said, ‘Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.’” I think the little songbirds can carry our prayers to heaven and offer us hope and healing in difficult times. I love when a cardinal perches near the porch and looks directly at me, its jet black eyes full of spiritual blessings and comfort. I always feel Chief near when I encounter a cardinal. “May my heart always be open to little birds who are the secrets of living,” ee cummings.

The birds can teach us to enjoy the blessings in our lives, reminding us to be grateful for waking each day with breath. Birds encourage us to rise early, to spread a little happiness by keeping a song in our hearts. “Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!” Psalm 108:2. If we sing loudly in our faith we bring others into the kingdom of God. We can soar through life with our faith in the Holy Spirit just as the songbirds soar through the heavens. J.M. Barrie wrote, “The reason birds can fly and we can’t is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.”

God provides for the birds and God provides for us. In Matthew we read that birds “neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.” This scripture reminds us to trust God to provide what we need. God’s love for us is protective. He covers us with “his feathers, and under his wings you shall take refuge; his truth shall be your shield and buckler.” Through our faith and prayers God provides a safe haven from fear and troubles. We can fly through life secure in God’s love. His faithfulness is unwavering and steadfast. Being in God’s presence gives us comfort, peace, and security.

“Birds have a way of putting things in perspective. They forge ahead and carry on no matter what happens.” — Susan Halpin