"Spend the Winter"

American Robin in the snow

"Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter,

so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go."

1 Corinthians 16:6

Most people think of American Robins as summer birds, hopping around on lush green lawns searching for earthworms. However, robins are present throughout most of the United States even in the dead of winter. I found a large flock of robins out on Farm Island near Pierre last week. Winter robins do not eat worms and insects. Instead they survive on a diet of fruit and berries. In my part of the country their primary winter food is juniper berries.

As I was considering the above quote from the Apostle Paul, I thought of how similar was his situation to that of migratory birds. Paul proposed to the Christians of Corinth that he might spend the winter with them. He suggested that they might even help him along on the remainder of his journey. That is exactly what we humans can do regarding our avian friends. We can encourage them to spend the winter by planting trees and shrubs that provide safe places to rest, and fruit and seeds to sustain them on their journeys.

It is good to reach out beyond ourselves, whether that is to other humans or to our fellow creatures. Be a blessing to others and you yourself will be blessed.