Birdsong

There is a tree outside the Swallow's nest.  Initially a small tree when her family moved in, it has now grown tremendously.  One of her friends once mentioned that several types of this tree release a hard-to-take-it smell when it starts to flower.  In the years since they moved in, flowers had bloomed but the Swallow was happy to note that any smell was either non-existent, or her sense of smell was not acute.

There are mixed feelings when the Swallow views the tree.  There is a feeling of gratitude.  When the sun's heat is strong during the summer months in Singapore, the Swallow's nest remained cool because the tree provided relief from the hot rays with its canopy and multi-tiers of leaves.  However, there is also a feeling of disgruntlement because just like the trees in the forest which cast their shadows onto the forest ground, this tree often cast its shadow into the Swallow's nest, and additional lights had to be lit to brighten the nest.  Then again, there is a feeling of happiness whenever birds - yellow ones - perch themselves on the branches of the tree and the Swallow's family could do a spot of bird-watching without going too far from the nest.

Two Saturdays ago, such mixed feelings have been replaced by a feeling of thankfulness.  On that day, the Swallow had been struggling with a lesson on forgiving.  There was still a little bitterness in her heart which she was seeking her Lord's help to let go.  Her mate, a wonderful listener to her usual woes, had been away from Singapore.  Tears had been pooling in her eyes while she struggled with the bitterness, but as she did not wish to explain her distress to the young one who was with her, she tried to keep them from falling.  Alas, it was in vain...

The Lord knew her distress.  He knew her struggles.  He knew the hard lesson she was trying to learn from Him.  He knew how difficult it was for her, and He provided for her - a young one who comforted her mother to the best of her ability; and a birdsong.

Yellow Bird



Sitting at her table, writing in her post, she was disturbed by a chorus of bird calls.  Unlike the usual calls heard from afar, these calls came from just outside her window.  Walking to the window with her young one, they saw two yellow birds flying around and around in a circle and calling out to one another.  After a while, they separated and perched on different branches, but they continued to call out to each other.  A sense of wonder and awe enveloped the Swallow and her young one.  Could it be a mating call?  Was it a mating process?  The Swallow does not know, but it was a beautiful sight...when her mate returned to Singapore later in the day, she was still unable to express fully this sense of wonder and awe.

Sunset

It was also a turning point.  In the past, whenever the Swallow's heart was heavy with life's worries and cares, she would seek stillness and quietness by gazing at God's creation - waves on the beach, stars in the night sky, setting sun in the horizon, plants by her windowsill - and thus remember the One who created all these - the One who understood distress because He gave up His Only Begotten Son, the One who understood forgiveness because He gave up His life on the cross for people who rejected Him.

Churning waters

On that morning, in her bitterness, she had forgotten; she had taken her eyes off her Saviour and Lord, and had turned her eyes on what was missing instead.  Yet how her Lord loved and loves her - He brought her a birdsong that called to her; that reminded her to turn her eyes on Him again.  For that she is thankful for the tree outside her nest, and for the little birds that sit on that tree.