Small Wonders | What a 10-Second Hummingbird Visit Taught Me About Savoring the Moment

There are days when the world feels like it moves at a breakneck speed, and then there are moments that invite us to stop, breathe, and simply notice.

If you’ve been following along with my Word of the Year—SAVOR—you know I’ve been looking for gentle, creative ways to tune into the present moment. Sometimes that means taking time to enjoy a warm mug of coffee or watching the gentle simmer of a cozy pot on the stove. But just the other day, a tiny, vibrant visitor in the backyard gave me the sweetest reminder of what it truly means to savor.

It all happened in a span of barely ten seconds.

My best friend Kim has a hummingbird feeder cam, and we happened to catch a flash of motion at the feeder—a brilliant ruby-throated hummingbird swooping into the frame. His tiny wings were a blur of impossible speed, a steady, whirring hum cutting through the quiet morning air.

Then came the magic.

Before dipping in for a drink, he paused. He hovered mid-air, perfectly suspended against the backdrop of the green lawn, and locked his dark, curious eyes right onto the camera lens. It was a breathless, two-second gaze that felt like a quiet secret between us. I see you, he seemed to say, before turning to dip his long beak into the bright orange blossom for a sip of sweet nectar.

A few swift sips, a hover, and zip—he was off into the sky, leaving behind a stillness that felt just a little richer than before.

Learning to Catch “Hummingbird Moments”

Watching that little bird pause mid-flight got me thinking about how often we rush through our own sweet moments.

Hummingbirds live life in fast-forward. Their hearts beat hundreds of times a minute, and their wings never seem to rest. Yet, when they find something nourishing, they pause completely to drink it in.

So many of the best parts of our days are like that tiny ruby-throated visitor:

• The rich, first sip of warm tea or morning coffee before the house wakes up.
• The way late-afternoon sunlight warms and filters across a favorite reading chair.
• A sudden burst of birdsong right outside an open window.
• A cozy bite of comfort food on a quiet afternoon.

These “hummingbird moments” don’t linger for hours. They come and go in seconds. If we are rushing off to the next task on our to-do list, we miss them entirely. But if we train ourselves to pause—even for just two seconds, like that little bird hovering at the feeder—we get to truly savor the sweetness right in front of us.

A Little SAVOR Reflection for You

As you go about your week, I invite you to keep an eye out for your own 10-second wonders.

What is a small, sweet moment in your day that you usually brush past, and how can you pause to drink it in today?

Whether it’s watching the backyard birds, feeling a cool breeze on the porch, or just sitting in a quiet room, I hope you find a moment to linger and savor the good things.

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” — Matthew 6:26

This is the ultimate verse for bird lovers! It pairs naturally with watching a hummingbird visit a feeder, serving as a sweet reminder that if God takes care of the smallest bird, He certainly cares for us. What a gentle, beautiful reminder that the God who cares for the smallest creatures in our backyards invites us to slow down, rest, and savor His goodness every single day.

Do you have bird feeders set up in your yard this season? What quiet moments have brought a smile to your face lately?

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