I just had to share this story on my blog.
This is a story meant for a friend of mine.
So....while on vacation last week, I was having a particularly difficult evening.
My daughters were playing a game and my husband was watching yet another baseball game. We had had a full day of hiking and enjoying the beauty of Acadia National Park. I was feeling overwhelmed about something and very lonely.
It was about 7:30 and the cottage where we stayed had steps leading down to the beach.
The beach was a rocky one but it was so awesome to sit on the steps, warmed by the mid-day sun, and watch the mist/fog roll in and feel the air turn chilly.
Every evening, a family of ducks, similar to the pic above, would swim by to nestle in the grasses to the left of our cottage.
This evening when I was feeling particularly lonely and dejected and wondering where God was in all of it, I happened to be watching the tide come in and sure enough......here came the ducks. A mama and 6 ducklings. The interesting thing about the ducklings is that they were in pairs. 2 behind mama, then 2 more, etc. I call this the "buddy system" with the kindergartners I work with.
And God spoke to me.
He showed me that just like those ducks, I need to travel through this life with a "buddy".
And that, in my life, He had specifically chosen someone to walk with through this journey and that I needed to trust Him to lead us.....just like the mama duck was leading her babies.
Simple isn't it??
Sometimes not so much.....it can be hard to develop close, spiritually intimate friendships.
Yet when it happens, I want God to be the leader of our relationship.
We will follow.
Hand in hand......heart to heart.....allowing our Father to lead........
As I was watching the ducks and getting this little "message" from our Maker, all of a sudden the mama duck really started quacking. Loudly. Insistently.
There was a large black cat (I hate cats) on the rocks watching these ducks.
I had to laugh because of all the corny books that depict black cats as "evil" of course I thought of Satan......
How like God to get my attention.....
Satan is gonna try to come along and steal me or my friend.
But God is watching....and He will insist that Satan flee.......
Hand in hand....and heart to heart.....I need to walk this journey of life with this friend that God has placed in my path...and together we will follow our Father God......
faith e m t copyright, July 2009
This is a story meant for a friend of mine.
So....while on vacation last week, I was having a particularly difficult evening.
My daughters were playing a game and my husband was watching yet another baseball game. We had had a full day of hiking and enjoying the beauty of Acadia National Park. I was feeling overwhelmed about something and very lonely.
It was about 7:30 and the cottage where we stayed had steps leading down to the beach.
The beach was a rocky one but it was so awesome to sit on the steps, warmed by the mid-day sun, and watch the mist/fog roll in and feel the air turn chilly.
Every evening, a family of ducks, similar to the pic above, would swim by to nestle in the grasses to the left of our cottage.
This evening when I was feeling particularly lonely and dejected and wondering where God was in all of it, I happened to be watching the tide come in and sure enough......here came the ducks. A mama and 6 ducklings. The interesting thing about the ducklings is that they were in pairs. 2 behind mama, then 2 more, etc. I call this the "buddy system" with the kindergartners I work with.
And God spoke to me.
He showed me that just like those ducks, I need to travel through this life with a "buddy".
And that, in my life, He had specifically chosen someone to walk with through this journey and that I needed to trust Him to lead us.....just like the mama duck was leading her babies.
Simple isn't it??
Sometimes not so much.....it can be hard to develop close, spiritually intimate friendships.
Yet when it happens, I want God to be the leader of our relationship.
We will follow.
Hand in hand......heart to heart.....allowing our Father to lead........
As I was watching the ducks and getting this little "message" from our Maker, all of a sudden the mama duck really started quacking. Loudly. Insistently.
There was a large black cat (I hate cats) on the rocks watching these ducks.
I had to laugh because of all the corny books that depict black cats as "evil" of course I thought of Satan......
How like God to get my attention.....
Satan is gonna try to come along and steal me or my friend.
But God is watching....and He will insist that Satan flee.......
Hand in hand....and heart to heart.....I need to walk this journey of life with this friend that God has placed in my path...and together we will follow our Father God......
faith e m t copyright, July 2009
6 comments:
This is profound, Faith.
I'm SO sorry you've been suffering. And yes, the buddy system is the perfect solution. With your educational background, it shouldn't be too hard to apply what you already know to your own life. With God in the lead, that black cat is no threat, "for greater is he who is in us, than he who is in the world."
I'll keep you in prayer.
(((Big Hugs)))
Oh this spoke to me in such a profound way. I feel so blessed that you shared this, thank you. God bless!
Joy
Oh Faith don't you just love how God can speak to your heart and bring comfort to you through ducks!!!! :)
Such a simple but profound truth! Thanks for sharing it!
hi faith,
i really relate to what you wrote - even when we are not feeling it - god shows us that he is always there. i love those moments! hope your journey is an encouraging one today. blessings,
kathy k
I love when God speaks to us through simple, everyday things. It makes Him so personal to me. Thanks for sharing this story. God has been speaking to me too about "the buddy system" and how I need to be more vulnerable and open with the buddy He has sent into my life.
Saying a prayer for you.
I loved this, Faith! This and your thankful list. :) God is so good! And you are so right about Him hearing our prayers for friends. With moves in my past, I have for sure prayed such a prayer. And oh how He has answered.
Thank you so, so much for your comment. I cannot tell you how much it blessed my heart. Thank you for always being such a wonderful encourager to me. Your comments are always such a bright spot! :) And the one that you left that one time...about being in the orchestra instead of on the stage...it is one I KNOW God had you put for me to hold onto. I still think on it so often. :)
Thanks for blessing me! Praying that God richly blesses this new friendship in your life! And if you ever need anything...prayer over anything...just shoot me an e-mail. It is a joy to pray for you.
Love and prayers,
K :)
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