There once was a little blue bird who had big wings and a bigger heart. She loved to fly. It was her very favorite thing to do, flying. Her eyes would shine and her spirit was light as she floated atop the air right into the sun. Her wings fluttered with the light. Sometimes she flew great distances to exotic lands or scary forests, and sometimes she just flew right down the road. Her favorite times, however, were when she could fly just to fly, going nowhere at all.
During one of these times, when she was flying just to feel free, it started to rain. Big, freezing drops of water pounded down on her like strong hands on a big drum. Each drop of rain pushed her closer and closer to the ground until--THUD--she crashed into the muddy earth. The little blue bird didn't know what to do! She didn't know where she was nor any of the creatures that were scurrying around looking for shelter from the storm clamoring in the sky. On top of that, she had crushed one of her beautiful, broad wings as she crashed into the ground. She shivered fiercely.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake and the little blue bird felt a deep trembling inside her chest. Something was coming toward her, something big, much, much bigger than the little blue bird. She squinted her eyes to try and see through the thick rain. It was a man. A tall man. A man with broad shoulders and big feet. He thundered right up next to the little blue bird and she was sure that was going to step on her. She squeezed shut her eyes and tensed up her shoulders preparing to be crushed...but it never came. Instead, the earth stopped shaking. She peeped real slowly out of one eye. The man had squatted down next to her and was looking directly at her! He scooped her up gently, with tender hands. She noticed how strong his hands were and she wondered how he could be so delicate with his touch with such strong hands.
The man with strong hands started walking back to a small cabin just a few yards away. He looked down sweetly at the little blue bird and said, "I saw you fall, you know. The rain got heavy and the winds grew rough and I saw you fall straight down. Oh, look! Your poor little wing is hurt, too. Don't worry little blue bird, I've got you in my strong, safe hands"
I usually feel like the little bird, flying and feeling free. Chasing the sunrise. But then things happen and life gets hard and I remember that it I, by myself, do have hallow bones that will break during heavy rains and strong winds. But He takes care of the lilies and the sparrows so surely He'll take care of me too. He sees, heals and sets me free. So I can truly fly in freedom in the shadow of his wings, tasting the sun and singing of glory.
"Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?" Luke 12:22-26
