We often feed the birds in our backyard during the winter. It’s quite interesting to watch the different birds come to the feeder throughout the day. Birds are like people, in a way. Some are short and plump, others are long and lean. Some species come in groups (‘birds of a feather...’), but others have more solitary ways. And they have a tendency to fight one another - just like people do.

As any bird watcher knows, the big thrill is to see a new kind of bird. Oh yes, the finches are nice, and the chickadees are so cute. We like the tufted titmouse, and we’ve seen pine siskins. But we’re prone to take all of these for granted. “Oh, it’s just another blue jay”, we’ll say. BUT WAIT! Just another blue jay!?! Take a look at that beautiful creature. Few birds in all of God’s creation can match the beauty of the blue jay. We’ve seen exotic birds in the pet store - the kind that people pay the big bucks for - that can not hold a candle to him. Yet we take him for granted because he’s always near. We see him every day. “It’s just another blue jay.”

We were thinking that we tend to take things for granted in the church, too - things that are always near - things that we see all the time. “That’s just brother X, he’s here at all the assemblies.” “That’s one of our faithful members reaching out to a fellow member who needs extra help and encouragement - he always does that.” “Oh, that’s sister so-and-so carrying food to a family that’s been sick, but she does that sort of thing all the time.” BUT WAIT! These are wonderful things, and we ought never to take them for granted. Thank God for our blessings in the body of Christ.

- collegevuechurch.com