Sightings

Ever regretted something you did? Ever have God bless you anyway? That's what happened with me and the merels (Dutch name for blackbird pictured here).

Merels are the size and shape of an American robin. For several years, a pair nested in the roses in front of our house. They would raise at least two broods per year. But roses need to be trimmed every now and then to keep blooming well. And yes, I trimmed away the part where the merels nested.

In the backyard we have winter jasmine, a lovely yellow flower that brightens up the drab winter days. Quite a bit of it grew up the side of the house--enough for a pair of merels to nest there for several years. But then that mood-boosting yellow flower wasn't blooming so well. So--yes--I got the bright idea of trimming it. No more merels nesting in the back yard.

Back to the front yard. The neighbor had an evergreen hedge that shaded our handkerchief front yard and blocked our view. That hedge really bugged me. So when the neighbor gave me permission to do some trimming . . .. It was only AFTER I'd snipped away more than she liked that she told me, unhappily, that merels had nested for several years on her side of the hedge. And, yes, I had once again trimmed that part away.

I really felt badly about all of this, especially when some plague killed off a lot of merels around here. I confessed this to the Lord, but it still weighed on my heart. 

And then I started catching glimpses of merels. Sitting on the neighbor's fence. Flitting from tree to tree in the neighborhood park. Snacking on wild fruit in the yard. Just this morning I saw two. And I thanked our Creator for the sightings. This reassures me that He is looking after merels . . . and me. 

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Jesus to his disciples, Matthew 10:29-31, English Standard Version