Flying Lessons

The hummingbird was sleeping in
When mother shook his wing
Wake up John it’s time for class
I heard the school bell ring!

He opened first one tiny eye
Then peeked out of the nest
He knew the day for flying lessons
What was his mom planned next

So out the door with trembling heart
John’s wings began to beat
Then up into the wind He flew
To lessons down the street!

But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 KJV


Flying Lessons by Peter Caligiuri 
copyright 2021 all rights reserved

The Mocking Bird Still Sings

But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord. Psalm 115:18 KJV

A few weeks ago, we paid a man to cut the tree behind our house down to a smaller and more manageable size. Because of the small space between our home and the one behind us it had to be done, but the bare and stumpy looking limbs left behind were not so wonderful to look at. My original dismay was softened considerably yesterday when I went out to sit on our back porch and saw that the mockingbird who often chose to regularly visit our tree had come back. He was not at all disturbed by the changes to our poor tree. He just flew in, perched on one of the stumps and proceeded to sing his usual song!

I do not know what has been going on in your life during the pandemic but in mine it sometimes feels as if things have been ruthlessly chopped away just like what happened with our tree. Maybe my bird friend is teaching us all that God is still God and no matter what things look like we can sing. We can bless the Lord both in good times and in bad because He is worthy of praise. Even if we must perch on the stumpy branches left in our life to sing our melody, remember that God is listening. Just as He was the God of the pruning so He will also be the God of new life and we can praise Him because our tree will one day bud again and then flower and grow forevermore!

Ducks and Eagles

  
Ducks and Eagles
 Way up in the sky
  Eagle soars all alone
 Far from the mud below
 Flying high in the blue
 He thinks it is true
 That he’s the best bird in the show
  
 While down at the farm
  Ducky waddles along
 With his tribe by the edge of the stream
 Leading them on
 To the cool water’s edge
 Where their dirty feet 
 Can be washed clean
 
 Now that I your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, 
you should also wash one another’s feet            
John 13:14 NIV 

Ducks and Eagles by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright 2021 all rights reserved