SUNRISE - Love in the Details
Last year, after returning from my trip to Spain, I found myself wandering into a bird pet store, still grappling with the loss and emptiness left behind by my beloved dog companion, Armani, who had passed after 14 years of shared adventures.
Animals have always brought me joy, captivating me from a young age with their wonder and beauty. Recently, that spark of fascination had been reignited, and I set a goal to connect more with wild animals and nature. I even hung a bird feeder outside my door, watching as neighborhood birds came in flocks. Over time, I began to recognize them by their unique markings and quirks, and it filled me with a sense of connection to the world around me.
One morning, with no specific plan, I woke up with an urge to visit a bird shop, not even knowing if one existed nearby. To my surprise, there were several, so I chose one with the intention of simply admiring exotic birds for the day.
As I entered, I was greeted by a symphony of birdsong, hundreds of voices filling the air. The place was alive with an overwhelming variety of birds, from toucans to doves, large and small, all adorned with colors that could inspire endless wonder.
On a whim, I decided I wanted to take one home. Overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of so many birds, I closed my eyes and whispered a prayer in my heart, asking God to guide me to the one meant for me. As I wandered through the aisles, two birds caught my attention: one, a tiny ball of fluffed up feathers in the brightest shade of yellow, and the other, a small bird with blocks of vibrant greens, blues, and purples.
Unsure of which to choose, I asked the gentleman working there for guidance. He explained that the yellow bird was a canary, known for the males' melodic singing, especially when trying to attract a mate.
Intrigued, I decided to bring the canary home. Not only was he a stunning little bird, but his voice filled my home with the most beautiful, loud songs every morning at sunrise and he couldn’t resist joining in when music played, often trying to out-sing the speakers. The louder I turned the volume, the more determined he became to match it with his own song.
Refusing to keep him confined, I always left his cage open. He would happily fly around the house, exploring with freedom. To my delight, every night he’d return to his cage on his own, tucking himself into the sweetest little ball, fluffing his feathers, and nestling his face between his wings while balancing on one leg.
At the time, my dad was in Colombia visiting family, and I sent him a photo of my new little friend. He immediately responded, excited to share that he was about to visit his cousin, someone he hadn’t seen in a long while. As fate would have it, his cousin was a canary breeder, someone who had devoted his life to raising and showing canaries in competitions. I had no idea this world even existed—it was completely new to me.
A couple of days later, my dad sent me a video via WhatsApp and said, "You’re not going to believe this!" I opened the video, and it was his cousin Rafa, explaining that after seeing the photo of my canary, he recognized it instantly. Based on the tag on its leg, he knew it was a Spanish Timbrado.
I was shocked! Naturally, I started researching the species to learn more about their history and how to care for them. To my surprise, I discovered that Spanish Timbrados are a breed from Spain, originally brought over by the Spanish in the 1400s from the Canary Islands. They were enchanted by these birds because their voices reminded them of castanets, the traditional instruments used in Flamenco and Spanish folk music. The name "Timbrado" comes from the unique metallic timbre of their song. I was completely blown away by the connection.
Without knowing anything about this bird, I couldn’t help but see God’s hand in this little detail. Flamenco is one of my greatest passions, and here I was, holding a bird whose song is tied to that very passion.
It was another humbling moment of seeing how God meets us in what seems like the smallest, most insignificant ways—ways that might seem trivial compared to the grand scheme of things. Yet, God cares about these little details. Sunrise, my sweet canary, is a daily reminder of His faithfulness and care. It reminds me that if He’s mindful of the little things that seem meaningless in comparison to the grand scheme, how much more does He care for the details of our lives? He truly knows what we need. He is our provider, our comforter, our helper, and our friend.
May you find comfort in knowing that no matter where find yourself today, God is always near, gently pressing into every detail of your life.
Till next time,
Paloma
Mathew 6:25
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? “
