Through My Picture Window with God
Photos by Melody Margrave
Written by Melody Margrave
This spring my husband put up bird feeders for me outside our living room picture window and each day I watched as the birds appeared. It was a distraction to life’s challenges and situations. I began to document the beauty of the nature around us – through my picture window – as birds appeared and flowers began to bloom. Those scenes through my camera lens were a reminder of our God and the beauty that we often take for granted. For me, the birds and flowers brought hope even though everything else around me seemed to shut down.
It reminded me of the verse in Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Jesus Christ.” God knew that in this time of change and challenge to get things done a different and safe way, I needed just to look out the window. Not only did I enjoy observing the birds and flowers, but I honed my photography skills by patiently planning just the right shot to capture the beauty. I’m not the best photographer in the world, but enjoying the natural beauty and sharing it with friends and family gave me a sense of peace and enjoyment through the spring of working with my students from home in a pandemic.
God taught me several lessons through the birds and flowers. I was lucky to have a home with a picture window and a husband who would take the time to put up the feeders. I was lucky to have had a mother who taught me the love of flowers and beautifying your yard with them. I was also lucky that my son found the love of flowers from his Gran and began planting and growing beautiful flowers. And, during this time, I was lucky to have those high school students to guide through the last weeks of school until the summer. They even got to see the views through my picture window while we Zoomed.
God also taught me another lesson with the flowers and birds this spring and summer. Things change and life continues. The gold finches left the feeders and other birds came in. Buttercups and tulips withered and the trees blossomed. Later, roses took their place. Then later there were sunflowers. At first, I was disappointed, but then I looked and these birds and flowers were just as beautiful and just as enjoyable. Yes, God, I know that you told me. “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven… a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2. One season replaces another. One flower replaces another. One bird replaces another. Life is like that as well, we have our ups and downs-our challenges-our despairs, but God is there through it all.
I also know that this will continue through the autumn and winter. The birds may fly south and the flowers may disappear, but the beauty of God’s creation will continue with the brilliant hues of the falling leaves and the wintery white snowfalls. My students have also changed. My seniors have graduated and are moving off to college and there are more students to take their places – still virtual – who will probably see what’s out my picture window in autumn and winter. “For All people are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of the field, the grass withers and the flowers fall.” 1 Peter 1:24
God’s glory and creation will continue to inspire me out of my picture window. Through that view and the challenges that I continue to face teaching my students virtually, I will grow. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.” 2 Peter 3:18
Melody C. Margrave is married to Richard Margrave and lives in Virginia with their son, Zachary. She is a high school English teacher. An only child, she was lucky enough to marry into a family where she now has four sisters and two brothers – Brenda Hale being one of the sisters. She loves her Tennessee family who she has not been able to see during this pandemic, but is so happy the Brenda has started this ministry. She can’t wait to hear of the families that are blessed by Brenda’s relationship with God and hopes that these families can enjoy flowers and birds in their yards as much as she does in hers.
