Of Sparrows and Squirrels

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?" - Matthew 6:26

If you've been reading along here on this blog for a while you know that I have a soft spot for all the feathered creatures that visit our backyard. We have a birdfeeder hanging from a tree at the back of the property and several bowls of water that sit on our deck railing, serving as both watering holes and, occasionally, bath tubs!

It has become a daily ritual to put seed and water out for them early in the morning, then head back into the house for a cup of coffee to await their arrival. Steam from my cup fogs the glass at my back door slightly these cold days as I watch, but like clockwork I begin to see them emerge from the privet hedge. There are always just a few brave ones at first, making sure the coast is clear, followed by a throng of tiny sparrows and white wing doves.

During the six years we have lived here I've seen cardinals, blue jays, mockingbirds, wrens, house finches, gold finches, a red-headed woodpecker, a black-crested titmouse, and this morning, a black-headed oriole. Though it's always a thrill to see a new bird up close, whether visiting or just passing through, I really enjoy the locals, you know... they have come to depend on me for their morning sustenance and their afternoon refreshment.

Several varieties of songbirds inhabit our area, and they are striking in their plumage of scarlets, blues, and golds, but the simple sparrow captures my heart every time for its well-tempered manner. Perhaps it is because of its diminutive size, but it never tries to bully other birds away from the water bowls. These tiny creatures line up as if elementary school children, waiting patiently and politely for their turn at the drinking fountain.

The sparrows have learned to trust that food and water will be there for them every day, so they stay in the privet hedge and make homes there, building nests, and laying eggs. They trust because they have come to know that even when they don't see us put out the food or pour water into their bowls, it appears, faithfully, day after day. There is no need for them to scratch and save their seed as means of preparing ahead for whatever might come. They simply nestle contentedly at day's end in their bower, waiting for the surety of what will be there in the morning.

We also have squirrels, LOTS of squirrels! They scamper about playing "chase" up and down the tree trunks all day and often regale us with their acrobatic prowess. They too have come to visit the birdfeeder and the water bowls. Tom gets irritated with them, but I don't mind them so much. They have to eat too, don't they?

The squirrels are nothing like the sparrows, however. They DO spend an inordinate amount of time preparing for... I don't know... winter... a rainy day... the apocalypse! I know, I know, that's just how God made them. They're little tree planters, and we're glad they are. But just sayin'... there are all manner of life lessons that can be learned from the simplest things if we just pay a bit of attention... like the difference bedtween the sparrows and the squirrels.

The squirrels experience the exact same kind of mornings here in my backyard as the birds do. Every day there is ample seed in the feeder and several bowls of water filled to the brim, but they have not learned to trust in the reliability of that pattern. It is in their nature to doubt the provision, and as a result, that doubt becomes a compulsion to take matters into their own...er, "paws". They dig relentlessly and store, hide, and bury their treasure, for they are convinced their well-being rests on their shoulders alone.

I hate to say it, but I've been there. I've been a squirrel. I too have wrestled with doubt concerning God's provision. I have fretted. I have wrung my hands and paced the floor. I have pored over bank statements and bills wondering how to make the dollar stretch. I have shed tears and lost countless hours of sleep over things completely out of my control. I have done ALL of this even after experiencing God's faithful -and daily- provision and protection. There is no other explanation for it besides being a "faith amnesiac" as Paul David Tripp likes to say in his New Morning Mercies devotional.

There has always been manna. There has always been enough flour and oil. ALWAYS. The one thing lacking from the equation is not lacking on God's part, it's a lack of faith on my part when I doubt. I too soon forget how much He has done, and continues faithfully to do for me. Ample seed will be there. Water will be filled to the brim and overflowing. I simply need to show up as a sparrow...

and trust.