A BIRD IN THE SNOW: My First Lesson on Not Fearing Death

When I was 14, God taught me a profound lesson on life and death that I have never forgotten. I hope it will be an encouragement to you as it was to me.

I'm originally from Texas and in the 60's especially it was rare that it snowed. But in the winter of 1963, the rarity happened. We were kids, so we loved it. That afternoon I was outside in our backyard revelling in the sparkling white landscape when something caught my eye. I ran to inspect it and there, in the cold snow, a bird struggled unable to fly.

I was always an animal lover so I scooped her up and brought her into the house. After puttering around a bit I found some soft rags, an old bird-cage, some seeds and the lid of a jar that I filled with water.

Before putting her into the cage I examined her to see what was wrong. My eyes widened, on the back of her neck was an enormous blister. I ran and got a Q-tip, put vaseline on it and rubbed it gently over the blister and prayed for her and hoped God would hear me.

All evening I kept checking on her, taking her out, putting a mild medication on her wound, talking to her. She looked up at me calmly as if she knew I was trying to help her.

The next morning, before school, I dug up some worms, fed her and prayed some more. As soon as I got back from school I went through the whole routine again. Every day for two weeks, I fed, doctored and fed her, talked to her. Everyone in my large family knew that their lives would be in danger if anyone hurt that bird. We were a wild bunch so I made double sure that the cage didn't get knocked over.

As each day passed, to my great relief and satisfaction, the blister got smaller. It was healing marvellously till finally, after two weeks in ICU, she was healed and chirping away. I was sad, but I knew that it was time to do the noble thing and to let her go.

"To everything there is a season." - Ecclesiastes

I felt glorious, almost a "religious" experience as I reached into her cage and held her tenderly against my chest. I walked to the back door somewhat sad, but very proud that I'd saved this little bird's life. - I took a deep breath and tossed her into the air. She flew wonderfully and then landed on top of our old dog house, looking at me. Then, just as she decided to fly off, a grey streak shot across the yard, snatched her and ran under the house. My cat, Smitty!! My mind snapped like a twig.

We had one of those old houses that are slightly elevated off the ground. We never went under there, especially us girls, as there were scorpions, black-widow spiders and God knows what else. But...at that moment I lost all sense of fear. Red-eyed and teeth clenched, like a mad woman I dove under that house ripping spider-webs off my face as I went. I grabbed Smitty, dragged him out and was choking him till one of my sisters saw me and rescued him, but I was totally devastated! I dearly loved Smitty, but that whole nightmare took my senses away. It was a few years later, after I asked Jesus into my life and began reading the Bible, that I finally understood it all.

Jesus said about the humble sparrow, "not one of them shall fall to the ground without your Father (knowing it)." (Matthew 10:29) "To everything there is a season...a time to live and a time to die..." (Ecclesiastes.3:2)

I had tried to save something that God was trying to save in His perfect way.

Here is a beautiful and inspiring section in the Bible that testifies to this fact: "...the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Because the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.(Romans 8:18-25)

I know I'll see that little bird and all of my wonderful pets and all of my loved ones again some glorious day when He knows the time is best.

"Life does not end when we die. Death is a rebirth into a spirit world of light and love, a transition from the physical to the spiritual that is no more frightening or painful than passing between rooms through an open doorway. It is a joyful homecoming to our natural home, . . ." - "The Awakening Heart" by Betty Jo Eadie

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