A Bird In A Storm

Read Luke 12:22-34

Then turning to his disciples he said, "Don't worry about whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear. For life consists of far more than food and clothes. Look at the ravens - they don't plant or harvest or have barns to store away their food, and yet they get along all right - for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!

Luke 12:22-24 (TLB)

Be strong! Be courageous! Do not be afraid of them! For the Lord your God will be with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6 (TLB)

Jack L. Bodden, from Texas, and his wife sat in their sun-room and watched a storm rage outside. As they watched the rain pour down and heard the thunder rumble, they noticed a purple martin flying through the wind and rain. She flew up to her nest under the eaves at the corner of their house. They could hear the chirping of her babies as she brought them a tiny insect, and then with a chirp of her own, she took off to find more for them to eat. Time after time she returned and then took off again. The heavy rain and strong wind occasionally blew her off course, but she never stopped. Their admiration for her grew with each trip she made, and they both remarked that there was something inspirational about her behavior.

Long after the storm ended, Jack kept thinking about what they had witnessed, The mother bird's behavior made him think of the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us. Like the purple martin, his sacrifice was an act of intense love! The little bird's determined care for her young reminded them that God really does care about and provide for all of creation. God's love will endure and will not be turned aside by the storms of adversity. Jack prays that the devotion of the little bird will stay alive in his memory and inspire him to show love to others and to trust God to provide for God's children.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for the sacrifice you made for us so that we may live abundantly. Inspire us to show your love to the world, in Jesus' name. Amen.