Birds and butterflies

I recall writing about the quiet of our neighborhood in northern California when it came to hearing birds singing. The predominant sound of birds was from the crows that populated the streets and trees. Not a particularly pleasant sound. As I sit on the back deck of our new home in Oregon, I am serenaded by so many song birds. It is literally music to my ears. There is one particular type of butterfly that frequents our backyard. It is black and yellow and often travels in pairs. It is nature’s way of adding color and motion to the landscape. These are the gifts of the universe and they come free of charge. It is only when we are open to such gifts that they arrive to feed our souls. When summer passes and winter approaches, these gifts will disappear for several months before returning again in the spring. This prevents them from being taken for granted. There are so many gifts available to us that we hardly take time to notice. For me it is birds and butterflies. What are the free gifts in your life and what message do they bring to you?