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I Used to Hate Birds

Writer's picture: Staci SweetStaci Sweet

A few years ago, I started studying the life of Smith Wigglesworth. For those of you who may not know who Mr. Wigglesworth is, he’s, ‘often referred to as ‘the Apostle of Faith,’ and was one of the pioneers of the Pentecostal revival1.’ He tells the story of a time when his father was struggling financially and had to take a ditch digging job. While digging, a bird, with a fresh worm in its beak, flew out of the ditch. Instantly he was encouraged. He said that if a bird would go to the extreme of going underground to get a worm, then he’d certainly stay on the job to feed his family. After reading that I cried. That’s because I hated them. Don’t ask me why. I just thought they were evil little creatures. But after reading about how they encouraged Mr. Wigglesworth's father I was determined to appreciate them as well.

Birds Are About Their Business


Ironically this week, I took the TRE to Fort Worth, where I had the privilege of attending the hottest concert on the planet – the 2017 Southwest Believers Convention. I took the train and while at the American Airlines Center, I kept noticing ravens and pigeons sprawling the platform where the trains boarded. In my usual disgust, I immediately looked away. But then I remembered that I’d made a conscious decision to appreciate their tiny existence, so I just watched them. They’d fly, land, and peruse the platform. Some would boldly walk alongside the passengers without any in trepidation. I soon began to admire their fearlessness and persistence.

One day, after leaving the convention, I bought a bag of chips and for some reason saved a few, intending to snack as I waited for the next train. But before I knew it, there were these little birds, patrolling the platform yet again. I noticed that every time I saw one, whether in the toughest part of downtown or in the quiet safety of the American Airlines Center, they were unbothered and busy, in search of food. Matthew 6:26 says,


‘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?’

As I continued to stare, I realized that these birds were teaching me something. I soon learned that they were about their business, of which included searching and EXPECTING to find food. Little did I know, God would use ME to provide what they were in search of.


God Uses Birds

As I sprinkled the chips, one bird grabbed a crumb in its beak and ran towards the others to show and share what he’d found. I watched his little eyes light up, as he skipped along the platform while the others quickly swooped in. Though I don’t speak chirp, I could tell he was surprised and excited.


And if I could understand their conversation, I could tell that though he’d been out there all morning, somehow he knew God would provide. In that moment, I realized God would do the same for me.

Only He used something that I once loathed and thought had no value to give me the message I needed.


He could have easily used Warren Buffett or Oprah Winfrey to teach me a lesson on value and expectation. Yet He lovingly used something as simple as a bird to do it.

I said all that to say this, your provision or the answer God has for you could be in someone you least expect. In fact, it’s probably in someone you don’t value or even worse, someone you hate. God will always provide but be careful because sometimes He'll use those you consider have no value.


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SOURCE: 1 - http://smithwigglesworth.com/

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