“I saw the sign, it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign”…….. (Ace of Base, 2011)
I wanted to write about something that recently occurred to me. In my last blog I wrote about a “holy 2×4” slapping me against my head. Well luckily that didn’t happen, but something else recently did.
In a past issue of the same magazine “Gather”, I read an article about a women who, facing some difficulties with the death of her daughter due to cancer, asked God for a sign. You see her daughter had cancer when she was younger. The cancer was in remission for several years and then returned again. This time it was certain she would not survive.
The women in the article was frustrated and scared but remained prayerful. During this time she had prayed for a sign from God. Not a sign to heal her daughter, but that everything in the end would be alright. During this prayer she prayed for a truly visible sign, one you don’t question you just know. Out of the blue she thought Blue Heron. She wanted to see a Blue Heron. Why she picked that, she doesn’t know but that’s the sign she wanted, to see a Blue Heron. Well through the course of her daughter’s death and her own healing process, on several occasions, when she didn’t expect it, she would see a Blue Heron. She would see it on the side of the road, in a field, in flight, just about anywhere. Several years later, she said she still sees them just not as often. Now, she will say she isn’t sure if she isn’t seeing them because she is no longer needing the encouragement, or if she isn’t looking as hard.
How does this relate to me, well let me tell you. I recently came across that article again. I read it and it thought. “that’s my holy 2×4!”. No I’m not seeing Blue Herons. However, as my life is continually changing over the last three years, and will continue to do so, I have asked God for a sign. The sign I asked for was the Hummingbird. In prayer I decided “just let me know it’s all okay, send the hummingbird.”
I personally picked that bird, because they just fascinate me. They are a small bird with great strength in the way they hover while they feed. The wings flap so quickly, you can barely see them. In Iowa I have never seen them by my home. While actually I saw once when we first moved in, but haven’t seen one since. So I asked for the Hummingbird. Well a few days went by and I was asking God in prayer, if this path we are on is still the correct path. I asked to see a Hummingbird.
On Friday evening 8/8/2014, while sitting outside with our neighbors, we were just chatting. Out of the blue, Doug points behind me and says, “Kris, Look. It’s a Hummingbird.” I turned around and right there by our side door just a few feet from us, was one single Hummingbird. Mind you, I didn’t tell anyone, I was looking for a hummingbird as a sign. My response was complete shock, and it flew away as quickly as it came. I then shared with Doug and our neighbors about the sign I was asking for.
Now, is this coincidence? Was it God giving me what I asked for? Was this bird confirming the path we are on is correct? I chose to believe, God sent me my sign. Everything at this time is okay. The path is correct. I also believe that I will continue in my times of struggle, to ask God to send me that Hummingbird, when I’m feeling lost and insucure. This sign as little as it might be, gave me encouragement, and builds my faith a little more. I can feel the mustard seed inside, just starting to sprouting its roots.
What sign do you need, that God loves you and is with you always.