The Sunday Sermonette – Lament for a Dead Bird.
On my walk, in the morning stillness, I spotted thee,
Motionless on warm concrete beneath a sprawling tree.
Thy azure-blue feathers are now at rest, where soft winds once stirred,
Now hushed is thy song, dear little dead bird.
The tune thou warbled sweet and clear,
Now, alas, has faded from human ear.
No leafy branch will feel thee sway,
No verdant meadow bright shall bid thee stay.
Yet, not one of Father God’s smallest creatures falls unseen,
Nor slips from His loving touch serene.
Come what may, little bird, He’ll remember thee,
As He remembers dear friends and He remembers me.
Though our earthly songs may cease to rise,
And life and joy may fade from our mortal eyes,
His tender care shall never part,
The smallest life from His loving heart.
Ever since I was a child, birds have captivated me. They are my favorite of Father God’s creations. The Painted Bunting appears to have danced atop an artist’s palette. Parrots, their feathers like fluttering jewels—deep emerald, molten gold, and turquoise blue. Peacock feathers catch the afternoon sunlight like iridescent prisms. Swans, mirrors of stillness atop a lake, float serenely, their plumes a whisper of snow. And cardinals, their fiery red feathers, are a symbolic flame—a beacon in winter’s stillness.
Birds must be very special to Father God, too, because the Good Book often uses them as metaphors for His care, love, and provision for his creations. They also provide valuable lessons about faith, trust, and the beauty of His world. So, the following verses remind us that He values and watches over all of creation, including His smallest creatures. Never let go of the blessed reassurance that we are valued in Father God’s eyes, just like the birds He nurtures.
“Look at the birds of the air,” states Matthew 6:26. “They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Just as birds depend on nature’s abundance, so should we trust that Father God will fulfill our needs in His perfect timing.
Remember the sparrows spoken of in Luke 12:6-7? “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Even the hairs on your head are numbered. Don’t be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows!” These verses should comfort us in times of trouble. We are not forgotten by Father God! If He cares about even the smallest of His creations, He certainly cares about us!
Birds often represent freedom and soaring spirits. “Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests,” states Isaiah 60:8. Psalm 124:7 declares, “We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.” Proverbs 26:2 proclaims, “Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.”
The beauty of watching birds soar should remind us of the freedom and joy that Father God desires for each of us. The next time you see a bird soaring high in the sky, let it inspire you to rise above your challenges and experience the joyful life that our Creator desires for us.
Birds are symbolic of hope and the promise of a brighter future, too. When next you see a bird take wing, mentally do so yourself, leaving your troubles behind and embracing a new day. Just as birds rely on the wind to lift them higher into the sky, we should place our hope in God’s promises to lift us as well.
King David wrote in Psalms 55:6, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord in Jeremiah 29:11, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Isaiah 40:29-31 sums it up so reassuringly: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles…”
Just like birds, may we too take flight, soaring through life’s journey with the assurance of Father God’s enduring love and guidance. Our faith can be strengthened as we learn from these beautiful creatures that grace our skies. They teach us that we are never alone because Father God walks with us through life’s journey. Cherish that, dear ones, and inspire each other to trust in His care as we navigate our paths ahead.
Ponder this and go forth.
