“And God said, ‘Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.’ So God created
the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:20-21 (NIV)
Along with a name given to me previously: “Wind is Crying” Niyol Daachaigii, many years ago Chief Tom Claus adopted me into the
Kiowa tribe and gave me the name “Hummingbird” Mahnsaw Dayna. It was the greatest honor of my life. So I became Niyol Daachaigii Mahnsaw Dayna—“The Wind is Crying Hummingbird.” Most people just call me “Cry.”
Hummingbirds are one of God’s amazing creations. There are hundreds of kinds and colors of hummingbirds. They migrate alone, not in flocks like other birds. They migrate over 5,000 miles each year, usually flying non-stop 500 miles a day. Their wings beat from 700 to 5,400 times a minute, making the humming sound. Their hearts beat 1,200 times a minute!
If you were learning about hummingbirds for the first time, and I told you that there is a bird half the size of a human thumb, weighing as much as a nickel, and could fly 20 hours without stopping to rest, would you believe me?!
Scientists say there are over seven million animal species in the world, and many more still undiscovered and unnamed. They say 80%
of the ocean has never been explored, and a high percentage of land has never had a human footprint on it. There are discoveries still ahead of us—who knows what our grandchildren and great grandchildren will learn?
God created millions of beautiful, unique, amazing creatures. But He created us humans in His image. We have a body, a soul, and an eternal spirit with whom He desires a relationship!
– Crying Wind
Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website.
Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org