Life is a gift
During the Christmas holidays we were very fortunate to be invited to my step daughter’s husband’s parents home near Duncan, on Vancouver Island. They were married just a few months ago. I found our hosts to be wonderfully welcoming and unpretentious; a quality I admire in others. Their home was reasonably large, of the type one typically finds on a small farm. The 2 car garage had a suite above where 2 of their dear friends live. Apparently, this accommodation was built specifically for these 2 friends who were living in Alberta were they all originally met.
I understood that the lady of the house was a dog breeder. Specifically of the Westies variety. We were lucky in that one of the female Westies had just given birth to 5 pups. This mom was given one of the spare bedroom in which to nurture her litter. Beautiful
Among all the peace and love present in their home there was, hanging from a metal post, a humming bird feeder next to the back door of their home. I didn’t think anything of it until the tiniest flying creature came to feed – she was mesmerizing. No bigger than a mouse, this very small bird hovered about one of the 4 ‘flowers’ then… quickly went to the next, and the next. And suddenly, as quickly as she appeared, she vanished.
Needless to say, my wife was completely taken with this feeder and determined to acquire one the moment we arrived back home. True to her word, she went shopping a couple of days after we returned and found a pretty red humming bird feeder. I reminder her that it would have to be kept clean so that the bird would not get infected from the bacteria which can accumulate on the sugar rich ‘flowers’. She was totally in agreement and proceeded to ‘load’ up the device with a mixture of pure cane sugar and water; a 4 to 1 concentration. The feeder did come with a package of ‘food’; however, it contained things other than sugar and could not be trusted. I rummaged through my hardware for a hook and hung the feeder at our back of the house, between the kitchen window and the patio door.
I believe that on the very first day we were greeted with the loveliest of Humming birds, She was effervescent green and red colour and energetically attacked the feeder until she figured out the mechanics of the device.
After about 3 weeks my wife told me a story of how a flock of 40 – 60 sparrows were joyfully playing in the bushes behind our home as the Humming bird was feeding. Hearing the commotion, she stopped feeding to turn around and look, There she was, hovering in mid air, watching the sparrows. A full 5 – 10 seconds was she ‘sitting’ in mid air enjoying the sight. Beautiful
“Ooooo, she s a moosh!” My wife exclaimed.
“A moosh? What is a moosh?” I asked
“A mouse dear.” she replied. As I remembered that moosh is Farsi for mouse.
My wife makes the most beautiful sounds whenever the tiny creature comes to feed. One cannot help but feel happy whenever these soft and gentle sounds greet your ears.
Today my wife demonstrated the size of the Humming bird’s tiny feet by indicating the tippe top of her thumb nail. “This is how small her feet are, barely perceptible. And she sits on these!”
It occurred to me that the Humming bird is a wild creature, living from one moment to the next, always at risk of starving or many other abnormal ends to her little life. However, she does not concern herself with such matters. She sleeps (somewhere), makes a family, and feeds where and when she is able. She simply lives. Until her existence is terminated naturally or otherwise.
It occurred to me that, like this tiny creature, life is a gift and is to be treasured for the wonder and beauty that it is. Much too short for drama or regret.
It is our duty to the universe, the giver of life, to treasure our beautiful existence and live fully and with great abandonment, To love, forgive, and be happy.
Be happy dear friends.
★ ° . . . ☾ °☆ . PEACE * ● ¸ . ★ ° :. . • LOVE ○ ° ★ . * . . ° . ● . ° ☾ °☆ FORGIVENESS¸. ● .
Feliz