There is an old beat-up bird house in our backyard. It has probably been there for ages, and it is just barely held together. But we leave it there anyway. The birds seem to love it! They don’t care if it is beaten up and falling apart. They are just happy to have a warm, safe and cozy home for their little families. They are just happy to have a safe place to land and to rest, a place to also raise their young. That’s what I love about nature. All the creatures just grateful to live, to survive. Like these birds in this birdhouse, they are just happy simply being. I think if we watched nature and listened to the birds sing, we could maybe see things from their perspective. The beauty of life in just being a part of it. As humans we always want more. Instead of longing for contentment in what God has already given us, we keep chasing bigger birdhouses. It is okay to want to better our lives and our families. It is okay to chase goals and dreams. The problem is when we are so busy chasing those things, that we don’t even stop to appreciate all that God has already given us. In our pursuits of wanting more, may we not make what we already have seem like less. May we praise God for all He has given us in our lives. I look at that tattered birdhouse, and I know somewhere in there is a little bird family, grateful for God’s provisions.

Erin Fitts-Brower

Tattered little birdhouse

James 1:17 NIV

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

1 Chronicles 29:13 NIV

Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

Psalm 100:4-5 NIV

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 NIV

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Psalm 9:1 NIV

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.