Two Birds and a Hash Brown

Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Getting a worker at McDonald’s to flip a switch, push a button, or whatever is necessary to turn the TV on at 7 AM is next to impossible. I often ask when I order my food if they mind turning on the news. The girl behind the counter usually says something like, “I will ask,” “I don’t know how,” or sometimes “Sure!” I then sit at the table closest to the TV and stare at a black screen, eating pancakes, hopeful of seeing Matt Lauer, or Al Roker before work time. However, that seldom happens. I leave with my hopes dashed and my faith in the kindness of the human race diminished. This is one of many life lessons that can be learned at McDonald’s I suppose.

Today, the day after Election Day, things were different at McDonald’s. The TV was on! Matt and Savannah were on the screen with long sad faces. Yes, their candidate lost. In the restaurant, I had to search for a seat near the TV. Everyone was watching. Some stood close to the screen, looking, listening carefully. It was as if some were hearing for the first time the news that Donald Trump had actually won. He will be President of the United States. Now, I suppose, the time of real worry begins for some who were watching the Today Show at McDonald’s this morning. While others seemed to be overjoyed, believing much good will come from this change.

As I sat and listened, I looked out the window toward my car. I saw movement underneath. There were two birds happily eating a discarded hash brown. Cars and people came and went all around them, but they had no worries. They had been provided a delicious breakfast and were feasting on the blessing.

Now, most of us have heard “Happy as a bird with a french fry.” Well, multiply that french fry happiness times a hash brown and you will get a picture of what I saw. The birds were obviously not worried about who the President of the United States was, is, or who it will be in the future. Many lessons truly can be learned at McDonald’s.

Wait a minute. Where have I heard something like this before? Hmm, birds don’t worry about much... This lesson was taught by Jesus in God’s Word of course. A real-life demonstration to fully get what God was speaking was great. He takes care of all creation. We are much more valuable to Him than birds. So, if He takes care of those two little birds underneath my car, He surely will take care of each of us. He loves us!

No matter who your candidate was, don’t let the outcome of this race cause you to lose hope for our nation. No, God hasn’t turned His back on us. Don’t lose faith in God. No, the whole world hasn’t gone crazy. The kindness of other humans still helps us carry on from day to day.

Put your cares, fears, and worries for the future at the feet of Jesus today. You can become as happy as two birds with a McDonald’s hash brown when you allow your Heavenly Father to feed you. What a blessing!