Always looking for more color in my life--including in my garden, the last several years I’ve prayed for goldfinches to come to my home. Their bright yellow bodies make them some of the most colorful birds in our area but less common than red cardinals, and blue jays. Once, I told an elderly lady who loved birds of my prayer. She retorted, “Well, if you’re going to pray for them to come you’d better have something for them to eat!” They did come. Every year. And they had plenty to eat among the seeded grasses in the back of our apartments.
I recently prayed for goldfinches to come to our new home
though they usually come in autumn. But then I remembered the admonition to provide food. Oops,
no tall, seeded
grasses here. “Oh well, Lord I’ll leave that
to you.” This week, they
came! They perched atop my
bamboo stakes but I couldn’t grab my camera fast enough without startling
them. Today however, I prayed, “Please let me get
some pictures before they dart away.” Prayer answered. I did. Not only did I get pictures but I found
who’s been eating my zinnia petals. I had
unknowingly helped the Lord provide food for the goldfinches when I planted
several varieties of zinnias. I’d been
leaving the older flowers in place for their color though deadheading them might
have made a few more flowers. Now I
know. Go for it goldfinches I have
plenty—be my guests.
Look at the birds
of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew
6:26