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The Hummingbird Story

A parable of the Quechuan people of South America, this hummingbird story encourages us to do what we can when we can.

How many times do we look at the world around us and become overwhelmed?  Do we ever look at what "big" things other people are doing and compare ourselves thinking our efforts are too small?

Be encouraged by this parable that our small efforts become big in the hands of God!



"Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

 Colossians 3:17

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people,  knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Colossians 3:23-24

”Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.  For we are each responsible for our own conduct."

Galatians 6:4-5

The Hummingbird Story -


Once there was a great forest fire.

All the animals fled to the edge of the forest and froze in fear not knowing what to do. They watched as the flames began destroying the beauty of their home.

Finally a tiny hummingbird flew to a body of water and took a few drops into its beak. It then flew quickly toward the fire allowing the drops to fall on the roaring flames.

Over and over the tiny bird continued. 

Drop by drop.

Back and forth.

Again and again.

The other animals watched from the edge of the forest, and called to the little bird, "What are you doing?"

The hummingbird replied, "I am doing what I can."


(Abbreviated in my own words)

How often we can become overwhelmed by fear or the shear size of problems and become paralyzed to do nothing.  Or we may compare ourselves to others and feel too small to matter.

Small.  What we consider to be small and insignificant may actually be huge in God's scheme of things.  Have you ever noticed how often God's view and the world's view are opposite?  The world says, "Be first!"  God says, "Be last."  The world says, "Go, go, go!"  God says, "Be still."  The world says, "Bigger is better!"  God says, "Small is important."

The widow giving her offering of two small coins in Luke 21:1-4, was affirmed by Jesus when He said she had given more than all the rest.   Jesus went on to say in Luke 16:10, "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much.

In God's hands, small can become big just like in John 6 when a boy's lunch of five loaves and two fish became enough to feed over 5,000 and also have leftovers!  

This little hummingbird story can remind us to do what we can.  Everything we do for the Lord Jesus matters.  It counts!

Every word.

Every prayer.

Every act of kindness.

Every hug.

Every penny.

Small counts in the hands of our BIG God!




© Susan Smart 2021 Permission is given for non-profit use of the information from this web page provided it is accompanied by the citation:

Used by permission of Susan Smart www.CreativeBibleStudy.com

All requests for other uses will be considered. Please ask. 





More Inspirational Stories

The complete original Hummingbird story 

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