Entertainment

Sunflowers are beginning to bloom here.

Reminded me of one year when I tried to save the seed heads to share.

ENTERTAINMENT

Intending to share sunflower seeds,

sunflower heads are cut to dry.

Each head is filled with hundreds of seeds,

so friends will not need to buy.

But yesterday's procrastination on my part

has provided this morning's entertainment

for garden guests have come in

this sunny morning.

A feast, a banquet, a smorgasbord awaits

for those who came this morning to swipe.

They were here before first light

to feast to their heart's delight.

Gray titmice arrive

eating side by side.

Yakking up a storm

this sunny morn.

Mama cardinal with her orange beak

is here for a free breakfast she seeks.

Does she have a nest

where her young ones rest?

Look there...a chubby squirrel scampers in

causing feathered friends to fly in the wind.

His checks are full

with black seeds stored.

I see two striped chipmunks

peeking out behind the tree trunk.

Quite comical they are as they hustle,

then with each other romp and tussle.

But when the chipmunks see me

they're off as quick as can be

hiding in the drain pipe

now hidden out of sight.

Gray mourning doves and brown sparrows

have eaten fallen seeds down low.

They don't mind dining side by side

though others guests seem to vie...

for little chickadees

I no longer see

as blue jays chased away

these black-capped guests today.

The ground is littered with hulls

from sunflower seeds which fell

after the buffet was consumed.

There's nothing left for this afternoon.

The mourning doves have left.

The titmice are no longer guests.

The squirrels are taking a snooze.

The chipmunks left without a clue.

It's now quiet.

No entertainment.

No feathered friends.

This story ends.

The smorgasbord of creatures have gone

but if I listen I can hear their song

as they entertain someone else

at another banquet where it's help yourself.

* * * * *

This true story really happened one autumn morning

as I had procrastinated the previous evening.

This story reminds me of another story regarding leftovers.

We read it about in the Gospels, between the Bible's covers.

One meaning of leftovers, let's stress,

could mean we are not once, but doubly blessed.

Today we'll focus on what remained, the leftovers,

or the "broken pieces" as referred to in Scripture.

The gospel writers refer to these leftovers as broken pieces.

We all know life is filled with heartaches, some which never ceases.

Our heartache left us with broken pieces or brokenness.

Confused. Hurt. Discredited. Rejected. Damaged. A mess.

Do our heartaches or broken pieces serve a purpose?

For our maturity? Definitely, YES!

It's when we seek God fully.

The God of all comfort - truly!

The Japanese will repair pottery that was broken

with gold, creating a beautiful reminder, that mends.

In the end the object is more valuable.

That's what our brokenness does: we're more valuable.

Our broken pieces have value and worth.

Don't stay in a state of depression, come forth

into the light of God's mercy, grace, and love.

He's here, right now, for you, with a ready hug.

Nothing goes to waste in God's economy.

Not leftovers, not broken pieces, not you or me.

Let God use your brokenness for your good

and for God's glory, as only He could.

Taking the five loaves and the two fish

and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves....

They all ate and were satisfied,

and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces

that were left over.

Matthew 14:19a,20

Taking the five loaves and the two fish

and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks....

they all ate and were satisfied,

and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls

of broken pieces of bread and fish.

Mark 6:41a,42-43

Taking the five loaves and the two fish

and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them....

They all ate and were satisfied,

and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls

of broken pieces that were left over.

Luke 9:16a-17

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks,

and distributed to those who were seated...

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples,

"Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted."

So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets

with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over...

John 6:11a-13

The Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.

II Corinthians 1:3b

He knows the way that I take;

when he has tested me,

I will come forth as gold.

Job 23:10

Life Is a Garden Party,

a gardening observation

followed by a spiritual application

in rhyme

with scriptures,

is available via Amazon.