An autobiography of a small, small, small, small bird

Nov 16, 2012, by Johnnie Liew-

 

I have heard a very meaningful Chinese song, and it goes like this translated to you:

“I am a small, small, small, small bird.

I want to fly and however hard I try to fly, I cannot fly high.

So I envy those that can fly high.

Since I cannot fly high, I could only nibble here and there for food.

 

 

My interpretation of this song can be compared to my daily life, things that I wanted to achieve and things I could not. Here it goes: “I am a small, smaller, smallest, smallest small person in life, without much education and knowledge.” See that in this sentence, there are five small’s here. It says that I am even smaller than the smallest. It means that I am indeed very small.

In my life, my ability could not let me excel in my career, finance and my family. I often envied those who can fly higher in their career. God created me so small that I am limited in the things I could do. However high I wanted to excel, I could not and I am always at the lowest. Contented to where I am without complaining, “I nibble food here and there”, sometimes with a little help from fellow Christian who could give.

 

 

God says, “look at the birds in the air” (Matt 6:26). The birds worry not where to find food and still God provides. Contentment is not possessing everything but giving thanks for the little that I have.

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? (Matt 6:26)

I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).

I rely on God to provide me the little that I have so I could share. I give thanks to my God because He shall supply all my needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus.

So, the life that God bestow upon Johnnie Liew shall be the smallest among birds, living in contentment with a thankful heart. A competitive spirit will drive me to compare, complain and live a prideful life.

Some birds will die after giving births to the young. Some birds will be killed by bird hunters. Smaller birds will have a shorter life span while bigger birds will have a longer life span. An Australian cockatoo which was made famous by a TV show, “Baretta”, lived most of it’s 80 plus years in a zoo.

In real life, some mothers died after giving birth to their babies. Some will be killed by accidents, sickness, tsunami, earthquake, natural disasters alike. Some will die earlier and some at a later stage, for only a few will live to a 100 years old, which we read in the papers. So aren’t our lives comparable to be a bird?

Let me be the small humble bird that is always content, giving thanks for my small ability and small works even though I cannot fly high and occasionally still envious by those who soar in the higher space.

I am a small, small, small, small bird.

 

AMEN. Glory to God!

 

Note: Writer has a wife and a son, named Cherrie and Clement. He is currently worshipping in FGA KL.