Adventures in Birdsitting

This week God has spoken and I have listened, but I was a little slow on the uptake on this one.  That's not surprising.  I've had some very painful things happen in my life and learned to depend on me and only me.   I've always kept my faith in the Lord and knew inherently He would take care of me, but in the everyday I depended on me because I had learned I couldn't depend on "mankind."  I've given God my worries and fears over and over, but invariably, I'd take them back.  More recently, just before starting this study, I started to feel that tug that God was at me, letting me know He's still there just waiting for me to figure that out once and for all.  

Things are different.  My guard is down now.  I'm secure in me and in a much different (and better) place in my life both literally and figuratively.  I've allowed myself lately to "let go and let God" as the saying goes.  I've so desired to hear Him speak in whatever way He chose to communicate with me.  I've gotten deeper into His word and really started to listen with my ears and my heart.  I've reached out to people who are going through or have already been through similar things I'm struggling with and whose opinions and faith I trust.

I have some health issues (mainly Crohn's disease) and it's really dragged me down the past months. I'm physically drained from it and I fear that if I don't get a handle on it, I won't have the strength to fight if it were to get worse or require surgery.  I've worked at my profession from home for nearly two decades and have felt God preparing me to move away from the career I loved.  I could see Him preparing my heart to be ready to give up that job and that dependency on the income it provided.  This is way outside of my comfort zone;  like miles outside.  I've worked since I was 16 years old.  How could I not work?  How could I just walk away from a job when many others can't find one?  How could I give up income that we depend on?  It just didn't make sense yet I still kept feeling Him tell me to rest, stop worrying, heal, and just be still.  I knew stepping away from work for a bit would allow me to spend the time and patience needed to be the mom and wife He wants me to be as well, and ready me for what great things He has in store for me next.

I asked the five questions in our study, looking to see if this monumental decision lined up with those. I discussed it with a wonderful friend and Bible study mate and my most important mate, my husband.  I had support from all fronts, thankfully.  I asked God for further confirmation of what I felt He wanted me to do, something that would give me comfort about finances (one of my biggest worries in my world).  Then I waited.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (or the yard, as we call it)...my son and husband discovered a baby bird, alone in its nest.  Mama and another sibling passed away, most likely the result of some animal.  They rescued the baby and surprisingly we could still hear a little 'peeping' in the bush where the nest was perched.  My husband did some searching and found another little baby on the ground, neck outstretched, mouth agape, waiting to be fed.  Two babies were rescued last night, happy to be reunited with a sibling and snuggled together in the nest their mother lovingly built for them.  It was when my sweet son was feeding them in their new and temporary home in the garage and giving them exactly what they needed, that it dawned on me.  This was my confirmation.  God was letting me know through these tiny creatures that just like He had provided for them, brought to them what they needed...someone to care for them, nourish them, give them shelter and help them thrive...that He would do the same for me and my family.  God is awesome.  He works so wonderfully, sometimes mysteriously, but always in pretty cool ways that speak to us so personally and in just the way we need.