God's reminders of His love and Presence can delight and
refresh us like the appearance of a beautiful butterfly, but His HUGS can be
more dramatic!
After a long three-and-a-half-year "desert experience" of
underemployment, God opened a door to Moira's husband's long-lost dream of
working with the poor in Africa. It was
December 2001. In the process of
downsizing, they had sold the home they loved. With just six weeks left till
the closing date, their real estate agent found one for them to move into. Their
new home had an unusual amount of cosmetic issues - seems like the previous
owner was a fan of cut-out wallpaper flowers. As they removed it, they found
nasty surprises, like holes in the wall with coloured wires inside them.
One day Moira's daughter was showering in the upstairs
bathroom directly above the front entrance. Her Dad came through the door to
water dripping through the freshly-painted ceiling on his head. To make things worse,
mould was at the root of the
problem! The building inspector had missed it. Well beyond just a cosmetic fix,
this represented a costly overhaul, and left them in sinking despair. Had they
made a terrible mistake?
The Lord's encouraging hug came in the most unusual
offering. For 15 years, the birdcage (as
seen in the video) was home to Moira's kitchen companion - a green singer finch
that tweeted and whistled like a canary.
That morning, right after their dark moment of discovery,
Sweetie interrupted her shock with an oratorio. Her voice lilted up and down,
all over the melodic scale in a thrilling performance that just kept
going.
Moira believes that the Lord ordered this remarkable
distraction to get this message through to her: "Moira, get your eyes off the
mould and onto Me!"
Dwelling on circumstances blocks His SON-light and casts
a shadow on everything. Looking up to the Saviour lets His light in and
brightens our perspective. The disaster
was no surprise to Him:
"Jesus
is able always to save those who come to God through Him because He always
lives, asking God to help them" (Hebrews 7:25 NCV).
The building inspector returned, and refunded his fee. Their
real estate agent was appalled and recommended legal action, but they soldiered
on, and are still rescuing the needy house little by little.
They soon discovered that their "location, location,
location" was priceless. The Bruce Trail became their playground. Their neighbours
were no accident. The children's school was close, and eventually Richard and Moira
both travelled here to the Crossroads Center for work --just five minutes
away.
Sweetie outlived the normal life expectancy of a green
singer finch. Never before, or after that mouldy misadventure, did she deliver
a song like her oratorio for Moira.
"For a little bird
might deliver your message…" from Ecclesiastes 10:20 could be the etymology of
the title of this Hug from Heaven - A Little Bird told Me.
May the song in my heart be the encouragement you need
right now:
"Why
am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again - my Saviour and my
God!" (Psalm 42:5,6).