Why do birds always sing?

The last few days were bright and sunny. The weather was pleasant and warm and you wish everyday is like this. Everywhere you go you hear birds chirping and whistling away. It is melody to my soul.

This morning I woke up to a gloomy, wet and cold morning. Already I was having the negative vibes for today. I don’t feel like going to work. I just want to hide under my warm doona and sleep. But there are bills to be paid and food to put on the table. I drag my sorry arse off the bed.

As I was making my breakfast, I heard the birds chirping and whistling in my backyard. Half asleep I was ignoring the singing, when suddenly I asked myself, “Why are the birds so happy? It is cold, it is wet, it is gloomy and dark and they are under the pouring rain, how can they be so happy? Crazy birds.” I was feeling sorry for myself.

Halfway through my breakfast, it dawn to me why the birds are happy. Birds scratched the ground and under the mulch to look for food everyday but on rainy days they do not need too. There are foods out on the lawn for their taking.

No, I am not crazy and it did not rain manna from heaven. It is true; there are foods out on the lawn. If you are observant enough, you will notice there are worms out in the open after a heavy downpour. The rain flood the ground forcing the worms to leave their home out into the open. The birds know this and that is why they are happy and singing. They do not have to work hard today for their food.

I am reminded it is always darkest before dawn and there is a silver lining in every cloud. The birds quickly bought me back to my senses. I am better off than many people. I have a job, a house, a lovely wife, family and friends. I have food on my table everyday and I do not know what hunger is or what it is like to sleep out in the cold. Yes, I am more fortunate than the million hungry people in the world and have every reason to be thankful. I am blessed.

Whatever my little problems are, it suddenly disappeared. But still it do not answer my question “Why do birds sing all the time? Don’t they ever feel sad or down? Don’t they worry about tomorrow and when is their next meal? Don’t they worry about the cold and wet?” If only I could talk to the birds and find the answers to my question.

Do Not Worry

Matthew 6

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.