You see I have this thing about hawks.
When I was maybe 13 I was having a really hard season and I remember looking up at God(obviously up at the sky...) and saying, "If you see me, I need a sign because I just do not think you are there." And shortly after I had a hawk fly by.
It was probably just a coincidence. I mean I live in the middle of acres of woods. There are many hawk nests and many many birds.
But the timing was not what got me. It was the freedom of the bird that struck me.
This bird could fly wherever it wanted, whenever it wanted. It was perfectly created by God to fly above storms and to heights that I cannot. They open their wings and soar with God.
I wanted to be like that with God. I realized God had to be real because that bird was too beautiful to not be made with care by God.
How glorious is that? Being able to soar with God all day long?
Hawks are also fierce. They are warriors in the sky that fight for what they need and do not let go until they get it.
They are brave, diving in the sky to catch things without stopping and rethinking.
So that one day I saw a hawk and really saw it. Such a beautiful creation of God. A creation that I want to have some characteristics in life. Freedom. Brave. Courageous. Trusting of how God made it to be. Fierce. Able to soar to great heights with God.
This may seem totally weird and really random and my conclusion about hawks may seem totally dumb to you, but it is a big part of me.
If you drive in the car with me, you will likely hear "Oh look its a hawk!" and instantly see my frown turned upside down.
After that day they brought me joy and make me instantly notice the beautiful creation God made. In the midst of all seasons, God creates with care.
On the best days of my life I looked and noticed hawks, on the worst days of my life when I needed to know God cares for His creation, I saw hawks. I love them and I think God knows that.
One time I was so stressed about finals week and I knew I had 8 days left of classes until the semester was over. I saw 8 hawks that day. Probably just a coincidence, but 8 being the number of days left and the number of new beginnings. I was geeking out about it for days haha.
On my drive on the way to college. On drive home for the weekend or back to campus. On my first full day in Kenya, Africa. On the day I learned how to lament to God. On days when it was just a normal day and nothing really good or bad happened. I saw hawks. I saw God's care for all He creates.
Again, it may seem weird. It may seem like a bunch of coincidences. And I think it really could be that. But the fact that I see these birds of prey and notice how God made them perfectly and they bring me joy, that isn't a coincidence. You see I think we should notice small parts of creation, because then we would see more of God's love for us.
If we noticed the sun shining, or the rain that washes away all the dust in Summer as blessings we would live a lot differently.
If we noticed the deer running or the birds chirping, we would see how God meets their needs and meets ours so much more.
God's word says :Matthew 6:26 ESV
"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? "
And also says Genesis 1:26 ESV
"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
You see, we are much more important to God than hawks.
I see hawks and they remind me that if God can make a bird fierce, and brave, courageous and have them trust Him fully, then what was I created for and why can I not be these things too?
God made us for so much more than going through the motions and not noticing Him daily. He made me to strive to soar with Him daily.
So when I see a hawk, that is what I am reminded of. That is why I smile.
Just wanted to share for those of you who always wondered.
-Lexie
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