To the Rescue

As I walked from the kitchen to the landing at the top of the stairs that lead to the garage floor, I noticed a female hummingbird flying hither and yon near the high ceiling of the garage. I had no idea how long she’d been trying to find her way to the outside. And I didn’t have time to help her since I needed to arrive on time at the doctor’s office.

When I returned an hour or so later, she was still flying around and around even though I’d left the double-car garage door open. I knew the tiny hummer was exhausted and panic-stricken. Yet, I didn’t know how to help her. Even if I had taken a broom and tried to usher her toward the opening, I was too short to get it near her.

I prayed, “Lord, help me think of a way to help her.”

Then this idea popped into my mind: She’ll be attracted to the red single-stem tulip in a red vase in the living room.

I hurried to get it. I placed it on the small table in the garage. Afterward, I stood on the landing for a minute or so to see what she’d do. She continued flying around and around.

Then I thought, I can put water in the base of the hummingbird feeder I washed this morning.

I followed through with that idea, feeling quite proud of having come up with two creative solutions. When I returned to the landing, the little hummer was trying to sip from the silk flower. Even though she found nothing nourishing there, she was able to see the way out of the garage. In a flash, she was gone.

As I brought the vase and flower and the base of the feeder inside, I said, “Thank You, Father, for helping me save one of Your tiny creatures.”

I’m like that tiny bird. I sometimes get myself into situations that I don’t want to be in, situations that I never intended to be in and can see no way out of. When that happens, I am so thankful for those God sends to rescue me. I am especially thankful He sent His Son to set me free from the sin that entangled me and would have resulted in spiritual death and separation from God for all eternity. 

Come!

While looking out the window one day this week, I saw a hummingbird, the first one I'd seen this season. The little bird was perched on the feeder and was sipping the sweet nectar my husband had prepared. I'm sure the little fella was thirsty and exhausted after having traveled from Central America or Mexico to where we live in central Georgia.

According to Internet sources, hummingbirds can fly 23 miles a day during the annual migration. Their tiny hearts beat up to 1, 260 times a minute; their wings flap 15 to 80 times per second! Because their bodies require far more fuel during migration than when they are merely zipping around from flower to flower in a garden, the hummingbirds prepare for the arduous trip by gaining 25-40 percent of their body weight in order to have a sufficient supply of stored energy. 

We don't have to beg the hummingbirds to come to the feeder. Their thirst compels them to come and drink. 

Likewise, our spiritual thirst compels us to accept our Lord's gracious invitation that's found in John 7:37, NKJV: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink." He also says, "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, NKJV). 

Jesus invites us to come to Him and find all that we need: salvation, forgiveness, strength, eternal life.... He provides everything in abundance; but it's up to us to humbly come to Him to receive the blessings He has prepared for us. No matter how needy we are, He will never turn us away! (See John 6:37.)