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A stranger’s kindness

birds appearing in the woods

unexpected gifts

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Wendy ❀ 2015

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At the end of December,

Ian and I were enticed by some sunshine

to go bird-watching at Lazo Marsh.

But when we arrived

we couldn’t see any feathered friends.

As we got closer to the water they appeared in the branches.

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I’ve not been one to feed birds.

 I figure our garden is already bird-friendly enough

with its abundant supply of organic berries and seeds.

But I wished I’d brought some food with me

so I could lure those sweet little critters 

closer to my camera.

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And that’s when the kindness of a stranger intervened.

A retired gentlemen approached us

 while I was struggling with my camera, timer, and tripod.

He stepped closer. “I can take a picture of you both.”

I smiled. “That would be wonderful.”

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He pressed the shutter button. “I’ll take two just to make sure.”

He took another picture, and then he pulled a bag of seed out of his pocket. “Would you like to share some with the birds?”

I hesitated until I remembered how desperately I wanted some closeups

of the chickadees and juncos. “Yes please. Thank you.”

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Ian chatted with the friendly gentleman

while I snapped a bunch of pictures

of  chestnut-backed chickadees, Steller’s jays

and whatever else stood still long enough.

I don’t like to keep my husband waiting too long,

so I took advantage of the situation.

~ ♪♫ Happy days are here again. ♫♪ ~

(Every once in a while I joined in their conversation

when they talked about current events.)

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Eventually it was time to say goodbye to the kind gentleman.

 I pulled my attention away from the birds

and made eye contact with him. “Best wishes for 2015.”

His face brightened. “Thank you.”

And that was when I realized

we had been kind strangers to him too.

We had broken up his lonely day.

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We have escaped like a bird

out of the fowler’s snare;

the snare has been broken,

and we have escaped.

Psalm 124:7

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Blessings of Kindness ~ Wendy ❀

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Have you recently been blessed by the kindness of a stranger?

Oh, do tell, if you have a minute to spare.

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