There’s something irresistible about a chickadee!

Recently I went out for lunch with some friends. When we were taken to our table a lovely little painting of a black-capped chickadee caught my eye. I ended up sitting directly across from the painting, and I couldn’t stop looking and smiling at that picture. When I found out that the prints on display were done by a local artist and were for sale, I made a quick and unusual decision. I was going to buy it! I say it was unusual because it’s out of character for me. I am not a spender. I am very reticent to splurge on something for myself, especially something unnecessary! But I couldn’t resist that little bird. I know a lot of people who love and enjoy black-capped chickadees, but I have an affinity to them based on a little more than their cuteness.

When I was nine years old my parents moved our family to a different town. That meant I started fourth grade in a new school. It did not go well for me. It’s always difficult being the new student, but it is especially hard when you are looked at as “different”. I have a disability. At that point in my life, my physical challenges caused me to walk awkwardly and run slowly. I’m not sure you could even call it running. As one of the boys let me know when he passed me on the way to the playground and declared, “I walk faster than you run!” Perhaps he was just making an observation, but it didn’t feel that way. I didn’t even really know I was disabled until my classmates mocked me because of it. So most of my recollections from that year are not pleasant. Except for the black-capped chickadee! On the outside ledge of our classroom window, a chickadee built a nest for her family. What joy it was to watch! So when I think back to that difficult year, I also remember that it was then I learned about the cute little bird called a black-capped chickadee.

My husband loved to plant apple trees. Because Paul was a pastor, we lived in a parsonage next to the church. That parsonage is now surrounded by apple trees. Quite often I would see a chickadee or two among the branches of the tree planted in front of the living room picture window. That window faced the church parking lot.

On the day of my husband’s funeral I was gazing out that window watching the hearse arrive with his coffin. To my amazement the tree in front of the window was suddenly filled and fluttering with a multitude of chickadees! I was stunned, surprised and joyful! What a blessing those little birds were to me. I do realize that in the winter chickadees can be known to flock together, but to me, on that day, it was a miracle!

I am not a mystic nor am I superstitious. I do not think that Paul sent those birds to me. It was not a message from him. And perhaps some would say it was just a coincidence, a matter of timing. But this I know: God used those chickadees to bless me, to comfort and encourage me!

God is not limited in how He chooses to speak to someone. He’s used birds before. He fed Elijah with ravens (They actually brought him food!), sent a dove on a mission, and used sparrows as an object lesson. God can use the big and boisterous, and He can use the small and seemingly insignificant. I am thankful for those chickadees. They showed me it was possible to smile when life is difficult and to have joy in the midst of sorrow. Black-capped chickadees will forever remind me of God’s personal, loving interest in me.

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