Now that I’m wintering in Vero Beach, Florida, I start my days by watching the sunrise.

I begin about a half hour before sunrise. The sky shifts through shades of pink, depending upon how high and how thick the clouds are that morning.

I stop about half an hour after sunrise. That’s roughly how long it takes for the disk of the sun to rise high enough in the sky to become too bright to look at.

In addition to the beauty of the dawn, I love to hear the rich variety of birdsongs from the many types of birds who love the pond near my house. (There are a number of bird preserves near Vero Beach.)

The birdsongs peak around the moment of sunrise. Also, many of the birds begin flying to mark the arrival of a new day.

I usually think the birds are celebrating.

But this morning, I wondered: “Why are the birds singing so urgently? It sounds as if they’re working hard because they think their birdsongs are lifting the sun into the sky!”.

I realized: “Many times, we make the same mistake as those birds do. We should be praising the LORD for his Amazing Grace. But instead, we mistakenly believe that the “sun” is only rising because we are working so hard!”.

We need to remember each day that it is by Amazing Grace we have been saved. This is not from ourselves—no matter how hard we work. (Ephesians 2:8-9).

We need to remember each day that we have been saved by the gift of God—not by our works! (Ephesians 2:8-9).

We need to remember each day to praise the LORD for his love and faithfulness that endure forever. (Psalm 117:1-2).

We need to remember each day to praise the LORD because:

“This is the day which the LORD hath made;

   we will rejoice and be glad in it!”

        (Psalm 118:24 (KJV))

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For more of my thoughts arising from birds at sunrise, please read my blog: “Pandemic Wisdom: Leaves and Birds”.

For more of my thoughts arising at the beginning of each day, please read my blog “Pandemic Wisdom: Meditating”.