A buzzing blur zoomed toward the hummingbird feeder outside our kitchen window. Wings beating about 52 times per second, the ruby-throated hummingbird hovered near the food site, snatching only short sips of the sweetened water.

Hover and sip… Hover… Hover and sip… Hover…

Repeat… Repeat…Repeat…

Not once did the little wings stop. Not once did the wee jewel settle on the perch. I felt tired watching it.

O, please, I thought, find the perch!

Another ruby-throat zoomed in, hovered, and sipped. Once, twice, three times.

Then, something wonderful happened. That bird realized that it could pause. It could put its full weight on the perch that my husband had lovingly added to the feeder. It could rest.

I watched the hummingbird fold its wings and take leisurely drinks of life-sustaining sweetness. Sometimes, it looked around. Sometimes, it chose to simply be. Ah, rest. I could almost hear it sigh with delight.

"Dear child," the Holy Spirit asked me, "what can you learn from the birds?"

Much.

Matthew 11:28-29 – Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (NLT)

Resting. Drinking long and deep from Living Waters. Resting. Taking in the beauties of His realms both seen and unseen. Resting. Simply being in His life-giving presence. Ah, sweet rest. And then we fly, together.

What about you, dear heart? Are you weary? Exhausted? Too scheduled to breathe? Jesus invites you to come and drink. Come, learn from Him. Come, be refreshed by the Living Water.

And don't forget the perch. The Spirit of God will easily bear your full weight. Just rest a while with Him. Then fly.

Prayer: We thank You, Lord of all the earth, that we are of more value to You than many sparrows. Enable us to be still in Your presence and find there the rest and refreshing that we so desperately need. In the name of Jesus our Saviour and friend, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Debbie Ginder <ginderdeb@gmail.com>
Hillsville, Virginia, USA
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