"Are You Not Worth More Than They Are?"

 

House Sparrow (Male) Photo Credit: Dietra A. Semple - Lens Poet Photography

Fragility

Sometimes I feel like a tower of strength. Other times, I feel like a flower that blooms, only to get torn by the harsh rains. Fragility is the reality of being human. Questions of worthiness is a constant battle among many, and one I fight incessantly. Am I enough? Will I be forgotten? Am I truly loved? No matter who we are or where we come from, those questions can haunt us. Like any negative thought left unchecked, we may end up bringing more harm on ourselves and to those we love. As for me, it was effecting my personal relationship with my Creator. "In all his perfection and holiness, how could he want me?" These words constantly echoed in my mind and yet there were many of His words that contradicted them. I knew this. The internal struggles of fighting to remember His words above mine had been wearing me out. I knew it was time to heal from this once and for all. For once I needed to bury these emotions so that I could move forward and just feel better. 

Time to Heal...

After some prayerful consideration, my husband decided to rent a campsite for us in Colorado at a National Park. We had an older, sufficient RV which enabled a safe trip without coming into close contact with people. There is nothing like meaningful solitude in nature. Whenever I need to find strength, peace and clarity, I always let God show me what I need through observing his creation. It was the month of August in 2020. The state of Texas had just undergone "Phase Three" of reopening public areas. Though this was the case, we still chose to refrain from eating out and carrying on like “normal.” Masked up, we packed some groceries and our belongings into our RV and headed to Colorado. What lessons will I learn? What will He tell me through what I see? This was what I intended to accomplish, observing the lessons and taking them to heart.

Natural Entertainment

We had finally arrived to Pike National Park and our campsite was perfectly secluded and surrounded by trees. There was no Wi-Fi, no cell service and it was perfect. Before we chose to hike, I took a few minutes to pray and ask Jehovah to show me whatever he wanted me to see and for me to pay attention. Once we got situated, we headed deep in the woods to explore. The adventure had begun. My husband and I found a good spot to sit quietly and watch the activity of the woods. Up ahead on the hiking trail, a juvenile Robin began to bathe in a rain puddle which made for the perfect little bird bath. It was poetry in motion. With every dip into the water, his whole body became saturated. Every flick and shake of his wings brought beads of water down his feathers. Who doesn’t enjoy seeing a bird bathe? Above us, there was a curious Chipmunk that began chattering at us. The chattering sounded  as if he was reminding us that we were in his territory. Meanwhile, there were these numerous tiny little black and white birds scurrying on the branches of the trees. How fast they were! They were Mountain Chickadees. When they did stop, the little birds hung upside down on the branches to eat pinecone seeds. Within a small timeframe, it was clear that my prayer had been answered. My Creator was entertaining me with His creation. 

"Are You Not Worth More...?"

As each day passed during our stay at the National Park, I began to see a pattern...birds. Every day spent was a new bird to see. Dark-eyed Juncos, Stellar’s Jays, Western Tanagers, Nuthatches, Chickadees and more! As the number of birds started to grow on my list of what I had seen, I began to remember the verse in Matthew 6:26 - "Observe intently the birds of heaven; they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are?" Of course! We never see birds planting seeds in the ground to grow their own food. They eat off of what God provides for them. They live a life of freedom, traveling and settling anywhere they please because of what God has provided for them. Meanwhile, as humans we seem to be in a rat-race stuck in the mundane with the many “anxieties of life” to care for. So he says, "Are you not worth more?" The clarity and answers I had prayed for were suddenly coming into full focus. It's as if He was reminding me, "Observe all these winged creatures I created. I took the time to make these beautiful but unique in their own way. Watch how they are always eating. I feed them. I have taken the time to not only create these seemingly insignificant creatures but to provide for them. While some may care less for these ones, I care. If I do that for the birds, why wouldn't I do the same for you? Is my love any less for you?" Through the birds, my Heavenly Father reminded me of just how much he values me. As tears of gratitude began filling my eyes, I expressed to my husband what my Heavenly Father has shared with me and wrote them down in my journal. 

      Western Tanager (Non-breeding Male)  Photo Credit: Dietra A. Semple - Lens Poet Photography

      Dark-eyed Junco Gray-headed (Male) Photo Credit: Dietra A. Semple - Lens Poet Photography

A Resolution

The moments spent in the National Forest helped me so much. My love for birds and photographing them blossomed even more. As I spent every day walking, observing and taking photos, I discovered more lessons and was reminded of how Jehovah God sees me. We all go through difficult times in our life that make us question our worth and purpose for living. Yet, we are surrounded by daily reminders of just how much we are worth through these winged creatures in the skies. I still struggle from time to time with feelings of worthlessness. However, when these feelings return and I see a bird flying past my window, I am once again reassured of how my Creator sees me. This is my resolution: to take just a few minutes every day to look to the skies and remember that I am indeed, “Worth more than many sparrows.”  You too...my dear reader are, “Worth more than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6,7)

*Please Note: Photos shared in this post are my own. Photos are not to be resold, duplicated or reproduced. If you wish to share on social media please add the credit information along with the blog address.