Chirping and warbling-sounds that woke my up this morning. Happy, cheerful, hopeful sounds. My face broke into a smile as I blinked away the sleep from my eyes.

Downstairs, when I opened the blinds, what did I see? Three robins hopping across the lawn. What happy harbingers of spring! Melodies of my feathered friends drifted into the kitchen. My lips upturned. The birds aren’t worried.

Turning, wonderings wove wistfully in my thoughts as I completed my morning chores : Has the snow landed 3 times on the robins tail? I think so. I hope so.

My eyes lifted and glanced out the kitchen window. There on my shepherd’s crook, still holding the skeletons of fragrant flowers from last summer, sat a little red-headed bird. How happily he sat, cocking his head this way and that, surveying the wide world around him. His feathers puffed and fluffed like a proud little soldier. How lucky I am to see such a sight! What a handsome fellow.

My legs carried me quickly to my phone. Hurriedly, my finger pressed the button. Did I get it? Oh, I forgot, the screen. Do I have time to get to the door without the screen? My feet flew to the door. I peeked out just as my friend tipped his head as if to say, “Top of the mornin’ to ye!” Opening his wings, he fluttered off.

“Good mornin’ to ye!” I whispered back as smile spread across my face. “Come back soon, little friend!”

“…Sing unto the LORD a new song…” Psalms 149:1b