Nature is Marvelous Medicine

It’s August in Texas, so I don’t have to tell you it is hot. The National Weather Service has just published instructions on how to bake lasagna in your mailbox, fry an egg on the sidewalk, and bake biscuits on the dashboard of your car. Not really, but these are the ongoing jokes for our weather reporters! 🤣

As I was out watering my struggling plants this morning, I had one of those nature experiences that just nourishes the soul.

Our garden is in front of the picture window of our living room, and there we hang a hummingbird feeder. A pair of hummingbirds fight over the feeder, so we, and the cat, love watching them.

This morning, my husband had taken the feeder in to clean and refill it. As I watered the plants, the largest of our hummingbird pair zoomed in for a drink. Seeing that the feeder was missing, he flew up to meet me eye-level, less than a foot away and just hovered there. His wings sounded like Luke Skywalker wielding a lightsaber! It was as if he was saying, “Hey! Where’s the food!” Softly I said, “No worries, little buddy, we are working on a refill for you.” He flew in a circle around me, looked at me at eye-level again and zipped away. Shortly after he left, three tiny bees arrived to greet me, watched my watering for a short time, circled my head and flew away.

I’m not sure if the hummer was watching from a nearby tree, but shortly after we returned the feeder, he was there. It even looked like he flew near to look in the window, as if to say thank you.

What a wonderful way to begin the day! These kinds of natural encounters have the power to change your entire perspective. Nature is marvelous medicine. Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine published a nice article about the health benefits of being outside. For example, have you ever enjoyed the healing power of “shinrin-yoku” translated into English as “forest bathing?”

Not only does being in nature encourage healing for our minds, but nature itself holds the power to heal our bodies of diseases. According to the USDA, 40% of all medicines in the Western world are derived from plants.

Our world is a beautiful place full of wonders. Take some time today to appreciate all that God has provided for us and His amazing creatures!

For more inspiring stories about enjoying nature click here.

“Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!” Psalm 150:6