I was sitting at the dining table this morning sipping my hot coco for breakfast, watching the little hummingbird at the feeder.
It reminded of yesterday evening as I was fixing dinner – there was a little hummingbird at the feeder, a big plump robin just out the kitchen window hopping around in the grass looking for worms, and a little Chestnut-backed chickadee splashing around the birdbath.
As I stood at the kitchen sink fixing dinner last night, I couldn’t help thinking how every little bird matters!
The little hummingbird isn’t nearly as big as the robin.
But that doesn’t mean it is “less than” because it is so tiny and small.
The little hummingbird’s song is more of a “clicking” sound.
But that doesn’t mean it is “less than” the robin whose melody fills the forest.
The robin’s song is beautiful as it fills the forest … but it isn’t the only song filling the forest. The Pacific Wren trills away. The Chestnut-backed chickadee sings out its uniquely special song. The Spotted Towhee chimes in here and there.
One bird’s song isn’t “better than” another’s. They all matter! Each little bird matters! Each of their songs is beautiful and special. And together, they all blend into an amazing forest chorus!
Just the other day I heard the songs of some new birds! The Purple Finch … and the Violet-green Swallow … and the Western Flycatcher. Wow! That is so exciting! I’ve never heard those songs before!
It’s tempting to think these “new” birds are “better than” all the other birds which I hear all the time, because their songs are “new” to me and the other birds’ songs are “normal.”
But these new birds aren’t “better.”
They all matter!
Each little bird matters! And each of their songs is beautiful and special!
The great big red-tailed hawk is perhaps one of the biggest and most powerful birds of them all!
But that doesn’t mean it is “better” because of that.
The barred owl eats mice and rodents.
That doesn’t mean it is “better than” the little birds which only eat insects.
Neither does it mean it’s “less than” the delightful little hummingbirds which sip flower nectar.
Each little bird matters!
Each of their characteristics are special and unique!
They each have a special niche role to fill in God’s creation.
The same thing is true when it comes to people. In the same way that it is tempting to look at birds and draw conclusions, and have preferences about which birds are “better than” or “less than” … we do this exact same thing when it comes to people.
God created all people special and unique … just like he created each of the birds special and unique.
Just like it is silly to judge between the birds’ songs and decide that one bird’s song is “better than” another bird’s song … so also, in the same way it is silly to judge between people and their abilities and decide that one person is “better than” another person.
Just like it is silly to hear the song of new birds and think they are somehow “more special” because their song is “new” to me … so also, in the same way it is silly to judge between people and think that someone who is “new & exciting” or has “new” ideas is somehow “better than” everyone else who is just “normal.”
Just like it is silly to judge the birds and think the red-tailed hawk is “better” because it is bigger and stronger and more powerful than the other little birds … so also, in the same way it is silly to judge between people and think that those who are stronger and have more energy are somehow “better than” those who don’t.
But at the same time, it is silly to judge the red-tailed hawk and think it is “less than” because it eats small mammals and other birds. How dare it! That’s terrible! In the same way, it is silly for us to judge people and look down on them because their life looks different than what we think it is “supposed” to look like.
Just like it is silly to judge the barred owl and think it is “less than” because it doesn’t sip flower nectar like the delightful little hummingbirds … so also, it is silly to judge people because they don’t do things the way we prefer to do them.
Each person matters!
Each person is made uniquely special by God! You were made uniquely special by God!
Each person’s personality, abilities, characteristics, temperament, background, interests, etc. are special and unique!
Your personality is special and unique! You matter!
Your abilities are special and unique! You matter!
Who you are matters!
Each person has a special niche to fill in this world.
There are people who only you can love. There are people who only you can encourage. There are people whose life you are having an impact on!
You matter!
Every person matters!
