Here on the farm and living in the country, there are so many different types of birds. I love to feed them. My hubby made me a tall bird feeder with a screen in the bottom for the rain to be able to drain through. There’s Woody the handsome red headed woodpecker, Carl and his wife Connie, the beautiful red cardinals that sing in beautiful perfect pitch and Wilbur the whippoorwill with his soothing night calls. But I believe one of my favorites is the Hummingbirds.

I’ve fed them here for the last 13 years. There is usually so many when they arrive in the spring that it looks like the airstrip at Atlanta Airport. They’re everywhere in our Crepe Myrtle trees. We hang the feeders on the porch at the front of the house. We had been so busy here on the farm with so many projects, that I had decided that I wasn’t going to feed them last year. When my husband saw the first one come fluttering about last spring, he said “You better put your feeders out.” I told him I wasn’t going to feed them this year. I have a dear sister that I love ask me “Do you have Hummingbirds at your house”? I told her “Yes, but I’m not going to feed them this year.” My Stepdaughter asked me “Did you put your feeders out yet”? I told her “No, I’m not going to feed them this year.”

I saw the hummingbirds flying around the porch for several weeks looking at where the feeders used to always hang. I thought I’d just ignore them and they would find somewhere else to go….until one day. We have always hung the feeders in front of the windows in the living room to be able to watch them as they come and go. I was standing in the living room when one little female hummingbird flew up to the window. She hovered there for quite some time peering in. It was like she was asking “What happened to the sugar water buffet? Did you forget to put it out”? It broke my heart and I was ashamed of myself. I was overcome with emotion and disappointment when they trusted me to care for them. I asked Tom to make me some more hooks and immediately got out the feeders. I started with one feeder and filled it up. Within 5-10 minutes the hummingbirds were back drinking. I had them all out and was filling up those 32 oz feeders everyday.

I could hear the Father’s voice in my ear “Why have you ignored me at times? Why do you not come to me first? Why do you not talk to me everyday? Why do you not invite me in to dine with you?”

What if Yeshua/Jesus had been walking around my porch and peering in the windows? Would I have ignored him or let him in? I’m reminded of Deuteronomy‬ ‭32:18‬ ‭
“You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you, and you forgot the God who gave you birth.”

Sometimes the smallest things that we think aren’t a big deal, have the biggest impact and outcome. I will never ignore those beautiful hummingbirds again. The Father’s voice was a clear reminder that I’m not to ignore Him. He is to be first and foremost in my thoughts and everything I do. He’s my heart, my rock, my strength, my redeemer, my Father and I belong to Him. I trust Him with my life to care for me, just like those little hummingbirds depend on me to care for them every spring through fall. I was sad to see them go in the fall, but I called out “See you next spring”!

The next time I see a glimpse of the Father, I will run to the door and fling it open wide. I’ll tell Him “Come on in, I’ll set another place at the table”!

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About the Seeking Scripture Team: We are a group of believers from all walks of the faith, saved by grace alone through faith in our Messiah. While we are of one accord in many things, we are all works in progress and lifelong learners. Therefore the opinions of one may not always represent the opinions of all.

Donna McDaniel
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