“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.  Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?  In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”

Job 12:7-10

I had my second cup of breakfast coffee on the back porch this morning.  Anna Ruth was having her devotional inside. The warmth of the rising sun touched my soul and reminded me of the magnificent goodness of God.

A robin in its finest Spring colors searched for food under the maple tree.  My trusty binocs took me into another world, where the marvels of each feather and blend of strong colors left me amazed.  Its alert, erect stance, yellow bill held high impressed me.

While I was concentrating on the robin two catbirds flew in.  The first thing they did was get a drink from the pond.  Maybe they are the ones that raised a brood of young here last year and blessed us for months.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a beautiful rufous crowned chipping sparrow, low in the grass, now with head held high as its familiar call announced its arrival.

The house wrens have been here for over a week now – they have taken up residency in the box near the swing – singing their hearts out as they welcomed the new day, the new year. I know there must be fresh eggs in the nest.

A crow flew over “cawing” its familiar good morning call.  Yes, we see you!

While I was thrilled by the songs of the birds, another sound caught my ear, the call of the frogs in the pond.  What was a croak to me had some meaning for our frogs who spent the Winter in the pond.  I could only imagine what they were trying to say!

To top off all this beauty our oriental blooming cherry tree, now in full amazing bloom, spread its limbs wide to capture every wave of light that came from the sun overhead.  For a week this tree will bless all who take the time to pause and absorb its beauty.

I needed to get on with my day, so I went inside where I took a quick glance out the kitchen window and was amazed and pleased to see a ruby throated humming bird flashing his sun-lit ruby chin feathers, feeding with delight at our feeder, the first of this season.  Can it be?

The warmth of the sun stirred my soul and the wonders of our natural world once again set me to singing a song of thanksgiving and praise.  Thank you, God, for speaking to me through nature once again.