I was sitting at my piano attempting to focus my heart and just worship Jesus, when I was interrupted by a goldfinch flying into my window. This has been happening a lot the past few days. On Sunday, a goldfinch flew into our kitchen window, and I ran outside to see if it was okay…I picked it up off the deck, and a few seconds later it died in my hands. Pretty sad.

So today I ran outside once again to see how the little goldfinch was doing! Like the other one, he looked like he broke his neck, and was desperately trying to get back up. I gently picked him up and he lay in my hands, looking really rough. For some reason, this little bird’s life became so precious to me in those few minutes. I prayed for the little goldfinch, reminding God of His own words about birds in the Bible…how even His eye is on the sparrow, and not one of them loses its life without His full knowledge. I asked God to heal the bird, even though it really looked like it was too late. But after a couple of minutes, he lifted his head up and just sat in my hands. Then a few minutes later, he flew over to the barbecue and just sat there. I went over to him, and told him not to fly into any more windows. Haha 🙂 I went inside, and came out about 10 minutes later, and as I approached him, he flew away! I was so happy!

What touched my heart in this little situation was God’s word about birds, but even more His thoughts for people. In Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Wow! As I held that little goldfinch in my hands, I had a glimpse of how precious he is to God, his Creator. Even as small and as common as he is. But in comparison, we are worth more than MANY birds!

From these thoughts, I began thinking about people in my life who really desperately need prayer. People who desperately need healing. People who desperately need to know the love of Jesus. What would happen if I was able to pray for these people with the knowledge of how precious their lives are to God?

Father God, thank you for showing me today how precious people are to you! I pray for you to lift the veil of apathy in my heart, and whoever else might read this story, so that we can truly love people with the same kind of love you have for us. May our prayers to you be filled with faith in your loving character, and with a self-sacrificing kind of love and care…the same kind of love you showed us at the Cross. Amen.