The Hummingbird

The Hummingbird

(This is the story of how God can use even the tiniest of His creatures for His good purposes!)

Each year in June, someone will ask, "Is it time to put up the feeder?" One of the kids will mix up the sugar water and fill the hummingbird feeder. Then my husband will hang it outside the breakfast area window. Each day afterwards we keep watch at lunch and dinner, hoping that today will be the day that a hummingbird will find us.

Usually one tiny bird finds the feeder, and has it all to himself for a while. Then, somehow, word gets out in the bird community, and others follow. From that time on, the feeder is quite busy. At each meal, we watch the antics of the birds as they come and go. Some are shy and stay only a little while at a time. Others are greedy and aggressive and dive-bomb other birds that attempt to feed at the same time as them.

This year was different. For some reason, we had only one little bird. He came frequently to feed, always going to the same spot on the far side of the feeder. Not having any competition, he took his time feeding. He was a particularly small hummingbird and was green with a golden cast. His throat was white.
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It was 8:25 pm on Wed., Sept. 10, 2003 and I was walking out the back door to go pick up my son, Ryan, from his Sr. High Bible Study. I glanced up at a newly constructed writing spider's web under the walkway between the house and garage and saw that something large was caught in the web. It looked like a bird. My heart skipped a beat as I approached for a closer look. It was my little hummingbird!

Anger boiled up inside as I saw the spider clutching the little web-bound bird. I grabbed the broom, gently tore the web, and lowered the pair to the floor. The spider tried to get away, but I was so angry with him for hurting my little lunch and dinner companion that I smashed him beyond recognition. Then I turned my attention to the little bird.

At first, I thought he was dead, but he let out a shrill cry and I could see his little body trembling. I supposed he was paralyzed from the spider venom and my heart broke as I thought about his imminent death. I wanted to put him out of his suffering, but just didn't have the heart to do it. Not knowing what else to do for him, I left and went to pick up Ryan.

On the way I said a quick prayer that my little friend wouldn't suffer. He had brought such joy into my life as I watched him from the kitchen window. Tears began to flow down my cheeks and I wondered if God wept for him too...

When I got back to the house I was prepared to dispose of the little body, but he was still alive--still paralyzed, still trembling. Wanting him to be comfortable, I laid him in a paper towel-lined plastic container and put him on a shelf outside where he wouldn't be bothered by predators. Then I went inside to mourn his passing.

As I put my daughter, Lindsey, to bed we decided to pray about what had happened. We asked God to watch over the little bird and spare his life if possible. We thanked Him for the joy He had given us through the little bird and asked forgiveness for hating the spider so much.

The next morning I prepared school lunches and thought about the little bird. I steeled myself for the task I dreaded and went outside. My heart did a little flip. The bird was sitting up in his little bed! He was weak, but sitting up. As I knelt down close to him, he fell over and couldn't get back up.

On closer inspection, I noticed that he was trying to move a wing, but was still bound tightly with spider web. I asked God for wisdom because I didn't know what to do to help. Then a thought popped into my head--"tweezers". It took 10 minutes to remove all of the sticky web without hurting the tiny bird. I kept thinking how small and delicate he was and how blessed I was to even get this close to a bird known for its elusiveness! What a gift and a privilege from God! I said another prayer for him and went back in the house to get Lindsey out the door to catch the school bus.

Later, I checked on the bird again. He was sitting up again, but seemed weak. He didn't move this time as I approached him. He just sat and looked at me. Again I prayed for wisdom. Again a thought popped into my head--"He needs food." "How?" -- I prayed. "A medicine dropper", came the unspoken reply. I ran inside and mixed up some sugar water. I dug through the junk drawer and found an old dropper. "Let him eat", I prayed as I went back outside.

I didn't know what to do, but decided to put a drop on his beak. There was no response as the drop slid down. Then it came to me, "Put his beak inside the dropper." I gently put the dropper hole at the tip of his beak and sure enough it slipped in easily! I just held it there for a few seconds waiting to see what would happen. Nothing. Then a few more seconds went by and I saw a movement, a bubble, another movement, and another bubble. He was drinking! Progress was slow, but finally he finished a dropperful.

I ran in to tell Ryan the news and to get the camera. I wanted to document this miracle from God! Then, I refilled the dropper and offered it as Ryan snapped some photos. Just as before, the bird drank. He no longer seemed afraid. He wasn't shaking anymore. He just sat on the makeshift nest and let me do whatever I needed. He drank 5 more dropperfuls--all the while looking at me and never moving.

After the sixth dropperful, he wouldn't take anymore. I decided to let him rest and went inside to shower and get dressed. As I showered, I couldn't help thinking about the events of the previous night and this morning. I thought about all my prayers and how each time an answer had come. I said another prayer of thanks and finished dressing.

It was 8:15 and I only had a few minutes before I had to take Ryan to school. I decided to check on the bird one more time and try to give him a little more sugar water. As I walked outside, I could see that he was perkier. He was actually perched on the edge of the container. I approached slowly, but just as I knelt down and reached toward him with the dropper, he looked at me and flew away. My heart exploded with joy as I realized what had just happened. I was overwhelmed with a sense that God had used the bird to achieve His purpose. He had given me a demonstrated sermon.

Almost immediately, I thought of Matthew 6:25-26. God cared for that tiny hummingbird. How much more does He care for me? Yes, bad stuff happens sometimes, but God is in control and is there with us through it all. Things don't always turn out the way we want them to, but we can trust that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him." My story had a happy ending--the bird lived. More than that, though, I had a reconfirmation that He cares for me more than I can imagine. And, in the midst of some difficult times, I received encouragement.
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**Author’s note: I wrote the story above the day after it happened because I knew that it was a gift from God. The story spans 2 days, beginning on Sept. 10, 2003. The date when this miracle occurred was significant. Following Sept.11, 2001, our lives were changed forever. My husband is a pilot for American Airlines and things looked bleak on Sept. 10, 2003. The company was facing possible bankruptcy, we had taken significant salary cuts and did not know what the future held for us. I was struggling to hold on to my faith that God would provide. That God would minister to my needs so tenderly and personally, exactly 2 years later, Sept.11, 2003 still brings tears of gratitude. Five years later I am struggling with many of the same issues. Jehovah Jirah (The Lord Who Provides), let me never forget…

Karen Hattaway
June 23, 2008

[Copyright June 23, 2008 by Karen Hattaway. All rights reserved.].