Do you ever have a trial or struggle that seems to go on forever and no matter how hard you pray, and seek for answers nothing comes? I have no doubt Heavenly Father watches over us day and night. I also trust in His timing, which is not always easy – patience is not one of my strong suits. I’ve often discovered in life that just about the time I’m ready to give up, something miraculous happens to give me hope to keep going.

This happened last week. Life has been filled with lots of hard and wonderful things all at the same time, particularly this past month! Just when I thought I could take a breath and come up for air, more things kept coming. I’ve been praying and searching for answers on some difficult life challenges for months now, and trying to be still and listen for guidance and direction.

At the same time my mind has been on what I thought was frivolous things, such as, “I wonder what a hummingbird nest looks like in real life, and will I ever see one in my lifetime?” In my 61 years, I’ve never seen one except in pictures. I’ve posted in the past about the hummingbird feeders we put out every April as we anxiously await the return of our little winged friends. Many times they arrive before we have their food out for them, and they hover in front of the kitchen window as if to say, “Les! I’m back! And I’m hungry!!!” This year however, we got the feeders out before they returned home.

Normally, they come sometime in early May here in Northern Utah. But this year, they were late. Ron and I talked about them a few times, and hoped they were ok on their long journey back north. Then suddenly just a couple weeks ago, they appeared! Always skittish at first until they get used to us again, but then they quickly settle. We generally have two, but by the end of last summer, we counted four! The most we’ve ever had at one time!

This year, we only saw two at first, but then another appeared. Last weekend, we had some friends drop by to visit. As we sat in our front living room, I couldn’t help but notice a hummingbird coming and going… a lot! This was odd, since the feeders are on the back porch, and this little bird was on the front porch. After our friends left, I went to bed and still wondered why that little bird was so busy flying around the front porch so close to the windows. The next morning as I raised the blinds, I saw the answer to my pondering! That little hummingbird, which I have since names Harriet, built a nest on top of one of our decorative Edison Lights on the front porch! It is so close to the window, I can see her come and go without disturbing her any time of the day or night!

I don’t know why, but suddenly I felt this was part of a miracle I had only thought to myself just recently, “I wonder what hummingbird nests look like, and will I ever see one in my lifetime?” The night before, Ron and I had a heartfelt discussion regarding the specific trials I’ve been seeking answers for in my life. It’s nothing serious or earth-shattering. I still have Faith Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers, but these trials have been hard none-the-less. As we talked, we discussed blessings I’ve received, and the promises within them. The problem is, the blessings that have been promised are not even close to what reality has been for quite a while now. The anxiety and inability that has come due to things out of my control have been painful and difficult. We both talked about what the reasons could be. At times I’ve felt so alone, and thought in my mind the words to one of my favorite children’s Primary songs, “Heavenly Father, are you really there? And do you hear and answer every child’s prayer?” I’ve pleaded with Him to help me know what to do. What is my purpose at this point in my life? If I am to continue on the present path, please give me some direction. Please help me to know what Thy will is for me?

That night I went to bed with these prayers in my heart, and the next morning, I woke up to the discovery of that sweet little hummingbird building her nest right where I would see it! And an odd place for her to build it at that – on top of a LIGHT! Right out in the open, with no hidden protection.

I immediately shared the picture of Harriet with the friends who had visited the night before, and they sent me the following information on hummingbirds, and the symbolism of what they mean. This made me curious to learn more on the symbolism of hummingbirds. They are after all, one of God’s miraculous creations! No other birds can fly like hummingbirds. They can fly forward, backward, and even upside down! Hummingbirds are also the only vertebrae capable of hovering for a period of time during flight.

“As a totem animal, the hummingbird symbolizes joy, freedom, perseverance, creativity, love and healing. It encourages us to live in the moment, to be open to change, and to pursue our dreams with optimism.” I loved this one the most!

“To some, sighting a hummingbird signals that challenging times are over and healing can begin. To others, these tiny fliers are an inspiring sign of hope and good luck. Hummingbirds also can have a spiritual significance and mean the spirit of a loved one is near.”

“Hummingbirds are most commonly thought of as messengers from heaven and that when you see one near you, it’s a loved one who has passed on, sending you a message or positive intention. These amazing creatures are great communicators and are thought to carry messages from someone else in this world or the after world.”

I don’t know how true any of these things are that I read about on the internet, however, each thought or message brought LIGHT to my heart and soul!

Here are some interesting facts about baby hummingbirds. “They can fly less than a month after hatching. The nest takes 6-10 days to finish and measures about 2 inches across and 1 inch deep with the inner cup about the size of a large thimble. The nest is built directly on top of the branch rather than in a fork. It’s made of thistle or dandelion down, held together with strands of spider silk and sometimes pine resin.” We don’t know how long Harriet had been building her nest when we discovered her choice to build it on the top of one of our LED Edison Lights. Thankfully, it does not get hot, so we are hopeful it will be a good place for the little birds to grow and develop.

The incubation period for hummingbird eggs can range from 11-19 days to hatch, depending on the species and weather conditions. At around two weeks old, baby hummingbirds start exercising their wings to prepare for their initial flights. Once they are ready to fly, they leave the nest, a process called fledging 18-28 days after hatching. This means the total time from laying eggs to fledging is about 5-6 weeks.

Mother hummingbirds feed their young a combination of nectar and insects to support their fast growth and development. The mother regurgitates the partially digested food into their chicks’ mouths, which can look like a sword swallowing. The chicks need to eat every 15-20 minutes from dawn to dusk, and the mother will continue feeding them until they are almost grown, which can be around four weeks old. After that, the chicks will leave the nest and fend for themselves. Most hummingbirds return each year to where they hatched, but not necessarily to the same exact yard.

At night hummingbirds often find a twig that’s sheltered from the wind to rest on for the night. Also, in winter, they can enter a deep sleep-like state know as torpor. This odd behavior usually happens on cold nights, but sometimes they go into a torpid state during the day. I’ve seen Harriet sit just like this on her nest, so I wonder if she is in this torpor state while incubating her eggs.

I’m not necessarily a superstitious person, however, I do believe God works in mysterious ways. And the feeling immediately came into my heart the moment I saw that sweet little nest, “I Am Here with you always, don’t give up hope, there is a work for you to continue doing.” It seems the best things in life require an uphill climb. The climb is worth it since the view is always the most spectacular from the top of the mountain. It is important to seek and expect miracles, and as we do so, our heart, mind, and soul will be filled with LIGHT! Keep climbing, don’t give up, and don’t forget to look for the small miracles along the way – those might even come in the form of a hummingbird named “Harriet” building her nest on the top of one of your Edison lights on the front porch of your home! :) Harriet seems to understand the importance of LIGHT, she built her nest on the top of one!

I’m praying for Harriet and her babies. I’m so excited to watch this miraculous process unfold over the next few weeks! Be sure to go out and look for the miracles in your own life. I’m thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who hears and answers prayers. I don’t see this trial ending soon, but maybe answers are coming, and the miracle of Harriet has given me strength and hope and most of all LIGHT! Have a great week!

Love Ya, Les :)