A special thanks to Lindy Bell from Plano, Texas. She wrote an article for the Daily Devotional Magazine, Power for Today and has agreed to share it here as well. Her Christian patience and love as she deals with a ‘noisy neighbor’ is both insightful and refreshing. Perhaps you should ask yourself if you could be so tolerant. Thanks Lindy for helping us keep things in perspective.
“I have a new neighbor, and wow, is he noisy! Break of dawn, he’s getting with it. Dusk he is still going strong. Even at 2:00 a.m. he hasn’t slow down a bit. Every time I hear the racket outside my window…I want to smile. You see, my new neighbor is a mockingbird! He is so full of song, he can’t seem to get it all out. His song various and never grows old, it’s lively and joyful. The mockingbird’s enthusiasm is a wonderful metaphor for the Christian life.
Are we so full of joy that our song overflows? Do we continually praise God because we can’t praise Him enough? God hears our song. He knows our joys and sorrows. He sees our works. He knows when we try our best, and He knows when we can’t find a song to sing. It’s interesting to me that as God created the mockingbird to be enjoyed by all who hear his song, He also created us so that we might sing of His loving kindness and mercy. “Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring…”
God wants us to share in His exuberance and our hearts to overflow with His praise. He longs for us to be filled with His ever abiding joy.
Take time to listen to a mockingbird’s song. Let it fill your heart until it overflows with joy and praise for the loving God who created all.”
“The whole earth is filled with awe at Your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, You call forth songs of joy.” Psalm 65:8