“Awake, awake, break out in song.” (Judges 5:12 ESV)

I heard my first robin of spring last week. After the cold weather we’ve had in southern Ohio, his song was welcome. He was singing outside the front window. Click on the following link to hear the robin’s songs. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/american_robin/sounds When I looked out, there he was on the porch railing, his red breast a welcome spot of color against the dull concrete driveway.

I always thought robins were migratory birds, but when I did a Google search I discovered while some migrate, many remain in the same place year round. In winter they form nomadic flocks that travel to where there are fruits and berries left on trees and shrubs. When spring comes, the flocks break up and the robins choose a territory, often where they were the previous year, and begin defending it in preparation for courting and raising chicks.

While researching the migratory habits of robins I also discovered some else I never knew. Male robins sing upon reaching the territory they’ve chosen as their new home. They don’t usually sing when they are in the winter flocks, because hearing other male birds sing stresses them. Birds sing and call for a number of reasons: to attract a mate, defend a territory, keep in touch with family and flock members, warn each other of predators, announce they have found food, and to welcome the dawn. In fact, near sunrise birds often sing more loudly and vigorously than they do at any other time of day.

I found this last tidbit of information very interesting. I’m not usually up at dawn, but I have been awakened on several occasions in the summer by the birds singing outside my window. In my opinion, it’s a hundred times better than the alarm clock.

As a vocalist, I can imagine no greater way to express myself than through song. I wonder how much better our day would go if we, like the robin, started it with a song. Breaking out in a joyful melody to greet the day might lift our hearts, soothe our souls, and would, I’m sure, be appreciated by the Lord.

When we get to the place God’s preparing as our new home—heaven—I know we’ll be singing as joyfully as the robin greeting the sunrise. After, all we’ll be experiencing our own Son Rise. We won’t have to endure long cold winters. There will be no more sorrow, no more pain, and our lives will be filled with peace and praises sung to the King of Kings.

Are you singing a sunrise song to the Son? If not, try starting your day with a song of praise.

A Sunrise Song (© Catherine Hershberger 3/16/15)

About the Author:

Catherine is a member of Greendale First Church of Christ. She is also an award-winning author of sweet and inspirational romance under the pen name of Catherine Castle. Many of her devotions have appeared on various places on the internet. You can find her books on her Amazon Author page or at Barnes and Noble. Sunrise Song is a devotion from Catherine’s unpublished book Lessons From Nature—A Gardener’s Devotional by Catherine Castle