By Sharon Jaynes

CBN.com - He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Psalm 40:3

"Could you please be quiet and leave me alone!” I commanded the squawking bird. “You are completely ruining my quiet time with God!” As soon as I sat down on my patio to do my morning devotion, a little finch darted from a flower basket that had become its summer home. He perched on a tree in front of me angrily squawking in my direction. After several minutes of constant badgering, I decided to give that bird a piece of my mind.

“Look, buddy,” I said, “who planted those flower baskets in the first place? I did! Who hung and fertilized them? I did! And who waters them daily? I do! Don’t you come out here complaining to me because I chose to sit here and enjoy what I’ve planted. They’re mine in the first place, and I’m just letting you live there. And you should be thankful for that. Beside, you’re making a terrible mess!”

He continued hurling insults my way, and after a while I realized his angry complaints had a familiar ring to them. In fact, they sounded a lot like my own. Oh, how I complain when situations don’t go my way, when someone messes up my plans, or when someone invades my space. My, my, my.

Then God spoke to my heart. Who made this earth in the first place? Who planted and watered all you have before you? This whole earth and all it contains is Mine. I’m just letting you live here. And besides, sometimes you make a terrible mess. Stop your squawking and start chirping the song I’ve put in your heart.

It was a not-so-quiet time, but God’s message came through loud and clear.