I have a new obsession. Hard to believe, I know. First it is a Flavia coffee machine and now it is watching hummingbirds. We really have not had many around this summer and then about a month ago we noticed one flitting to and fro so I put out a feeder. I can sit on the deck and watch it flit to the feeder and away again.
Right before we left for Houston 2 weeks ago I saw 2 and I was thrilled that our numbers had doubled. I became the Crazy Hummingbird lady and watched for them off and on all day when I walked past the big window that overlooks the deck.
Tonight, after we returned from Houston, there were 5 of them! I spent an hour just watching them on the deck. Of course I could only get pictures of 3 at a time but there were 5 for a long time. I think we can definitely learn something from hummingbirds, don’t you? While they look like they are chaotically flying all over they have a definite purpose in their travels. Find the food source. Find the place where they can be fed time and time again. Find the one place that consistently offers sustenance.
For me that source is God. He is the source of constant nourishment even when I neglect Him. He does not leave me. The hummingbirds reminded me that I need to hover more closely to that source of life . I need to walk the walk a bit better. I need to fly closer to the source of the provider of all things. I need to graciously acknowledge each and every day that the chaos that is sometimes present in life can be calmed if only I realize where to direct those chaotic actions.
So today I am going to adopt the hummingbird way of life and flit to the source that makes me complete—-my loving Father in Heaven.
36 Comments
Leave a commentHummingbirds are incredible. They come to our Rose of Sharon and our Trumpet Vines. This is a very moving post.
Oh I bet they love the Trumpet Vine. I don’t really even have any good flowers around for them so I need to work on that next summer!
Gotta love a bird post! How fun that you returned home to FIVE of them! Sara likes to watch the hummingbirds here, as well. There are a number of them–brilliantly and brightly colored. Sara has a few amazing photos I’ll try to share.
Glad you made it home okay and had such a lovely surprise waiting for you.
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
Thanks, Kathy! We are amateurs compared to my brother—he has mobs of them at his feeders in Arizona!!! But I do love them!
Beth Ann, add this to your folder of posts that will become part of your book of devotionals. This piece is beautiful for its comparison to a stunning little bird and for the reminder to always turn to God and rely on Him.
Just as a sad postscript: Earlier this summer I found a dead hummingbird lying on our front steps. Randy spotted a live one the other day and occasionally I see one hovering near my impatiens.
Thanks, Audrey. I have a list on my phone that when I get a blog idea, like this one, I jot it down because I forget them so easily. I wrote this note down months ago and then when we came home and saw these beauties I decided to finally put the words all together.
We had one trapped in our garage one time and they are impossible to catch —-we finally used a fishing net but they are so fragile it did not end well. 🙁 My brother says he has 20 at a time hovering around his feeders. But then he is the wildlife biologist so he has an edge on me with the wildlife. 🙂
Twenty hummingbirds are once? That’s crazy ridiculous.
That’s wise to jot down ideas when they come to you because, yeah, I know what it’s like to forget. Sometimes I’ve been known to spring out of bed to jot down a phrase, a head, an idea. I always think I will remember it when I awaken, but I don’t.
That is my problem too so I have started just jotting down the idea when i think of it on my phone list. It usually makes sense later. Usually.
Last night I had 7 hummers. They must be fueling up!
I just love hummers and yours are magnificent. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to persuade them into our yard, but when I visit my parents I love sitting on the patio watching the hummers negotiate and fight for their nectar. The pictures in the post are framers! Bet your New York boy would love one for his New York Pad. 😀
They are just so neat to watch. I am not alone in my love of them, I know, but Chris has given me the name (Crazy Hummingbird lady) and when he is home and is sitting in his recliner he will whip his head around and make little obnoxious comments about them to get me riled. Usually works, too. And the NYC boy has very limited room—-and a huge brick wall that he is not allowed to drill into for pictures. 🙂 His tastes border on the Carolina oriented items.
I really appreciate your blog today as you have given me something to think about using the hummingbird going to his source and our source, going to God. I am doing devotions for a week on our Copeland TV and I am not doing so well right now.
You will find the perfect thing —use my hummingbirds as a starter!!!! Love you!
There….. Morning devotion done! I will never look at a hummingbird the same 🙂
🙂 Thanks, Jackie!!!
Coral Bells and Fuchsias (the last in a hanging basket on our front porch) have attracted more of the sweet little creatures this year than any other. After a while, they aren’t bothered at all by our close proximity when we are sitting on the porch. Amazing!! Lovely post!
I know what you mean—they whip around like crazy when they get used to you! This morning they are going crazy–even caught one trying to get nectar out of the fake flowers on my grapevine wreath…..
Yup! Sometimes ya just gotta wonder!! LOL! Totally fogged in here……and I have laundry to go out on the lines……waiting……… Hugs……
My mom has a fistful of hummingbirds at her feeder in Arizona. They are so much fun to watch; they “buzz” my mom when she goes outside to tend the feeder.
Darlene— that is awesome!!! They must love Arizona as my brother has mobs of them in Yuma! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Beautifully done. And what has always amazed me about God, is that He cares about the tiny sparrow….or in this case, the hummingbird, along with everything else in the great big wonderful world He created. His love is so big, so vast; but it touches even what seems small and insignificant.
I used to sit with my late grandmother in front of her big picture window and watch the birds come to the feeders. She could sit for hours and just watch too; a contented smile on her face. She never lost the feeling of what a privilege is what to see these wonderful little creatures. So this post has actually been moving on 2 levels. I cannot see a hummingbird without also thinking of my wonderful, loving Grandma too. Thank you!
Oh I am so glad it struck a chord with you today and that it brought to mind some wonderful memories of your sweet grandmother. I do love watching the birds and wildlife and that is my idea of a perfect day–enjoying God’s creation wherever I am. Thanks for commenting. It made my day. 🙂
Fantastic pictures Beth, I agree with you about going to the source of our nourishment. GOD above can give us that and so much more if we would only allow it to happen. And we have to know that what ever comes about, comes in his time and not ours. Sometimes that is very difficult to do.
Thanks for great stuff to think about.
It is VERY difficult for me to “get that”. Really you would think that I would have learned it by now…but no…I have to continually have these reminders. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for the post, Beth Ann, I really needed to read your words today, had bad time with chemo, just not bouncing back as I should. Love how you reminded me where to look for my source of strength. When I feel so bad, it is hard to keep my eyes on Him and off of me. 😉 And that makes no sense, because He is the one and only Source, the one true God who loves us very much. Your pictures are beautiful and bring a sense of peace and comfort. Did not get to go to Worship yesterday, but listened to CD today. Scripture was from Psalm 139 and one of my favorite verses, “For You formed my inward parts, You covered me in my Mother’s womb. Ps. 139:13.
So sorry to hear you are not bouncing back as quickly as you would like to. I am sure your body is just plum tired of it all by now! You are strong and you are an inspiration to all. It is okay to accept a difficult time every now and then. God is with you no matter what, right? So don’t be too hard on yourself when you just are plain old tired. Praying for you and loving you through this time. 🙂
You probably have a variety of hummingbirds out there. Ruby-throated are the only ones to come east of the Mississippi, except for an occasional Rufous sighting.
There was a really small one I only saw once that I did not recognize at all—I need to get my “book” out and see if I can identify it! It was not at the feeder but in the flowers and was there only a short time.
Hummingbirds are very special and we don’t get to see them here. I love the pictures! I think we can learn from all of God’s creatures.
Thanks, Darlene. They are amazing little creatures. Last night I sat out and watched them and I had 7 of them!!! I think they are fueling up for their journey which will be coming soon.
Amazing pics Beth Ann!
Thanks! My camera is full of hummingbird pics!
Beautiful pictures. What a great lesson. I love when God speaks to us from nature…His voice and wisdom is all around us! Thanks for sharing! Coming by from SITS! 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Kate, Thanks so much for stopping by. I find that God speaks in so many ways but so often it is in nature, isn’t it? Thank you so much for the comment and taking the time to stop by. I am always amazed when I get a comment from a SITS sister because there are so many blogs that post links. I also always wonder if I have picked the “right” post to share but hopefully today I did. Thanks again!
Yes, you picked the right one! I feel like that, too! But I love finding other Christian writers out there! So refreshing! Thank you for coming by! 🙂
Beautiful photos and what a wonderful lesson. Thanks for sharing it. I will be thinking about it.
I love humming birds, too. Happy Sharefest.
Thanks for stopping by!! I really appreciate it! And thank you for the nice words. I love hummingbirds and they are providing me with a lot to think about these days.