Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 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?”
—Matthew 6:25-26

Jesus speaks here in his famous Sermon on the Mount, but the words are as powerful today as they were in the first century! Jesus addressed his disciples, followers who had learned to trust him (even though they continually questioned him and often misunderstood him).

It is important to know that he spoke to believers, to those already in relationship with him, because otherwise the words sound like pie in the sky. Coming from a confidence in God—who we believe and know to be intimately connected to us—makes a world of difference.

Having lived long enough to KNOW that God has been with me through thick and thin, I still find these words so hard to put into practice. I have two closets bulging with clothes and an overflowing pantry, and yet I regularly buy something else to wear, and I go to the grocery store all the time!

Recently, though, I had an experience that gave me hope that maybe I am learning to live more like a “bird of the air.” For insurance purposes, I had to have some jewelry appraised, and one of the pieces was a beautiful ring that had belonged to my mother. None of the jewelry was fabulously expensive, but it turned out that Mother’s ring was quite valuable.

Unbelievably, that ring disappeared. I am sure that no one stole it, and though I have looked for it for months, I cannot find it. I’ve looked everywhere. I’ve had all the emotions you would expect, but finally some sort of peace came over me. I was able to understand that it was only a possession, and let go of the whole thing.

This little miracle happened much faster than I would have expected, thanks be to God. And I am actually grateful for the whole experience.

Thank you, God, for your steadfast love for us, your children. Help us to trust you in all things, great and small, and help us to know the difference. Amen.

_{Copyright © 2005 Margaret Jones.}