A Watchful Eye

A Watchful Eye

Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

Matthew 6:26

In the spring, baby robins stretch their necks for food. Ducks and ducklings cross the road. The spring air around an Amish home echoes with birdsong, but spring isn’t the only time the Amish enjoy the birds. Many Amish in eastern Ohio take part in the Christmas Bird Count. This count is organized and run by the National Audubon Society, and it has become a fun Christmas tradition for many families. From December 14 through January 5, Amish birders and others observe, count, and record their findings.

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) began in 1900 when ornithologist Frank Chapman became concerned about the slaughter of birds and mammals around Christmas. People would celebrate the holiday by going out and shooting anything that moved. Chapman, a prominent ornithologist, organized instead a day for bird-counting rather than bird-shooting. He got local groups to count and record the numbers of birds and numbers of species they had seen during a pre-chosen, 24-hour period within a pre-determined count circle. During the first count, around Christmas 1900, 25 groups—which included 27 participants—recorded 90 species and more than 18,000 individual birds.

The Amish community in Holmes County, Ohio, has become one of the more popular places to find rare birds. Local birding enthusiasts—mainly Amish birders—even started a birding journal, the Bobolink.

Watching birds reminds us of our Savior’s care. It also reminds us of the wonder of being unique and individual, just like the different species of birds. If God has a plan for each small bird, doesn’t He also have a plan for each of us? If God cares for the small creatures who live in the harsh elements, won’t He provide for us, too? The next time you see a bird, remember this: God’s care for us is even greater than His care for the birds. He watches us, counts us, and records the joy we bring to Him.

Dear heavenly Father, I thank You for Your faithful care for me, so much greater than for the sparrows. Thank You, Lord, that Your watchful eye is always on me!