The Pastor’s Blog – GREAT CARE
I sat comfortably in my backyard, enjoying a little sunshine and a cup of tea with my wife and a friend (yes, we were six feet apart). As we sat there talking, hummingbirds came and went, along with starlings, doves, robins and a host of other birds.
We are blessed to have a hobby farm next to our yard so we have many feathered friends visit. Our friend noted how fortunate we were to have our little visitors. I had started to take them for granted, so it was a good reminder to appreciate what God has given us.
As we visited, I thought about all the anxiety COVID-19 has produced. This virus is bad, but many people are living with unfounded fears that may be more detrimental to one’s health than the risk of infection. Anxiety weakens the immune system, and even those trying to be careful become susceptible to illness of many kinds as they harbour their fears.
Then I looked again at the birds. They flew freely about the yard and the field next to us. They chirped and sang without hardly a care in the world – except maybe a little concern about the hawk flying high above us. A beautiful bird landed by our fishpond and enjoyed a morning drink, gave us a chirped “thank you” and flew off to join its family. No isolation, no barriers, no worries. How fortunate to live in that kind of carefree world.
Then I remembered what Jesus said in Matthew 6:26:
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:26
So today I may not be able to fly like the birds, but my soul can soar freely because I can trust my Heavenly Father to watch over me. That is enough for today.
– Pastor Gary
Prayer of Serenity
“God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.”
“Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.”