CandaceMeiler.com

Okay. Okay. I guess I’ve learned that small talk isn’t going to completely ruin my day. Almost.

Now though, my husband and I have a very comfortable routine. We wake up at 5:00 and by 5:30 we are sitting together, coffee in hand, either in my office or on the front porch, preparing to do our daily bible reading together. We are on our sixth time reading through the bible in a year! I could tell you all the ways this has changed our marriage, but that’s another post for another time.

When the weather permits, sitting on the front porch is my favorite place for coffee and bible reading with my husband. We sit in our rocking chairs while it’s still dark out. Crickets and frogs are still awake and there’s an occasional pack of coyotes howling into the darkness. The noises of the night are soon at rest as the sun gently, yet confidently, makes her entrance on the horizon. Hues of purple and pink filter across the eastern sky, the coming sunrise a signal to the birds that it’s time. 

As we were sitting on the porch this morning, the peachy shade of dawn in the sky, I snapped a picture of this tiny bird perched atop our young maple tree. She sang and fluttered and fluttered and sang. The first thought that came to my mind: She is doing what she was born to do.

Oh, to be a bird!

A bird doesn’t wake up and think about what she’s going to do today. She doesn’t look in the mirror and assess all her flaws because she can’t even comprehend the idea of self-loathing some of us are accustomed to. She doesn’t think her beak is too big. She doesn’t wish her wings were a different color. She doesn’t wish she could do something to shrink the size of her tail feathers. A bird doesn’t look at her eyelashes (do birds even have eyelashes?) and wish they were longer. Birds don’t worry about what they’re going to wear or what other birds think of them. Birds just wake up and get right to doing what they were born to do. They sing and they aren’t self-conscious in the least because they don’t give one single flip if it sounds good or not. You know why? Because they were simply meant to sing. They were meant to spread their wings and fly. A sparrow doesn’t compare her flying skills to the eagle because the sparrow knows exactly who God created her to be and she just rolls (or flies) with it. On her commute from nest to tree, she doesn’t fret about the tasks of the day or how she will accomplish her to-do list or worry how she’ll provide for her family because she knows the Lord will take care of it all.

Oh, to be a bird!

In Matthew 6:26-27 (NLT), Jesus says, “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”

Why is it so hard for us to be exactly who God called us to be? True, we are more complex than a bird. We have a conscience to tell us right from wrong. We have a mirror to see our reflection each day, yet we look in the mirror and see everything wrong with ourselves and fail to remember that we were made in His image. (Genesis 1:27 NIV) We let the noise of this world drown out His whisper telling us, “You were fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14 NIV) We mindlessly scroll social media and get sucked into the vortex of comparison, forgetting that God never meant for us to all be the same. He called us to be different; set apart. (Romans 12:2 NIV) We may not have wings to fly, but there is freedom to be found in a relationship with Christ (Romans 8:1-2 NIV,) but first we have to turn away from the sin that keeps us imprisoned. (Hebrews 12:1 NIV) Some of us have a gift of singing. Some of us don’t. But it doesn’t matter because we–all of creation–were created to worship, to make a joyful noise! (Isaiah 43:19-21 NIV, Luke 19:40 NIV, Psalm 98:4-6 NIV) 

Which is exactly what the little birds do.

But, you see, I don’t want to be a bird. I want to be the uniquely created woman God made me to be. When I wake up in the morning and recognize my weaknesses, I want to be reminded that He is my strength. (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV) I want to find comfort in knowing I am fearfully and wonderfully made by HIM. I want to see and love myself and others the way Jesus sees and loves me. I want to rest in the knowledge that I am far more valuable to him than the sparrows. And I want to own my purpose and boldly walk in confidence that only comes from the Lord, knowing that He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it. (Philippians 1:6 NIV)

Friends, we have one life to live. I turned 47 this year and it is ever present in my mind how fast it is all going by. I understand the term “mid-life” crisis now more than ever. Not that I’m considering doing anything crazy, but I’m starting to understand why some people do. We spend so much time worrying about how we look, how much money we don’t have, or admiring the greener grass in someone else’s pasture, when all the while, we have this one sweet, beautiful life happening right before our eyes. It’s the only chance we get! (Oh, you don’t like your life? The great news is you are one decision away from changing the course of your life. You can CHOOSE to be happy! Don’t know where to start? You can start by being THANKFUL!)

How amazing would life be if we kept our eyes focused on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith? (Hebrews 12:2 NLT) If every time we recognized a flaw, we prayed scripture over ourselves instead of letting the negative thoughts consume us. A sweet friend at church recently taught our small group how to pray scripture over ourselves. Try something like this:

“Thank you, Lord, for creating me in your image. (Genesis 1:27 NIV) You said that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14 NIV) Help me to remember this when I am focused on something negative about myself. Transform me into a new person by changing the way I think so I will know Your good, pleasing, and perfect will for my life. (Romans 12:2 NIV) Help me to lay aside the sin in my life that keeps me entangled so I can be free and focused on You, the author of my faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV) Thank You that YOUR JOY is MY strength. (Nehemiah 8:10 NIV) Fill me with Your confidence so I am not afraid to fulfill my purpose in You. Finally, Lord, I ask that You would remind me that I was created to worship You…so help me to SING! (Isaiah 43:19-21 NIV, Luke 19:40 NIV, Psalm 98:4-6 NIV) In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.”

Just like the sun rises, silencing the creatures of the night, it’s time to silence those voices trying to hinder you from living out your God-given purpose. It’s time to recognize your God-given potential. It’s time to claim victory over the sin holding you back. It’s time to give glory and praise and honor to the One Who created you in His image. 

And just like the little bird in my tree, friends…it’s time for you (and me!) to SING.