Our Father loves and cares for us. I recently explained this to a little girl in Bible class. It was hard for her to believe that the very hairs of her head are numbered. I read her the Scripture to teach her His love for her. She told me she felt “funny” having One watch her so closely. I told her there was no need to be fearful. God loved and wanted the very best for her.
“But even the very hairs of your head are numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7
While researching this article I found some interesting facts about geese. We would do well emulating their characteristics.
A pair of geese will get together to raise a family and, for the most part, will stay together the rest of their lives (up to 25 years), raising new families each year.
One of the most distinguishing characteristics of geese is they form a giant “V” across the sky. This amazing trick actually helps each bird fly further than if flying alone When a goose falls out of formation, it will feel the drag and move quickly back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into formation leaving another goose in the front position. They even honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Geese have very strong affections for others in their group. If one in the gaggle gets sick, wounded, or shot, a couple of others may drop out of formation and follow the ailing goose down to help and protect it. They try to stay with the disabled goose until it dies or is able to fly again, then they catch up with the group or launch out with another formation.
God’s Word uses the example of birds in His Word to stress divine care.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not?” Matthew 22:37
God provides for His own as in the case of Elijah the Tishbite.
“So he went and did according unto the Word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.” I Kings 17:5-6
A favorite song of mine expresses well the sentiment for something better in their lives. I apply it to Christianity and letting go of the world. I pray you will as well. May we all fly from sin and be protected of Him beneath His wings.
“Restless, hopeless, and misunderstood
Like so many others I know
So busy tryin’ to keep holdin’ on
When I should’ve been letting go
The answer to all of my wonder
Was right in my hands
Now it’s time for me to discover
All that I am
I’ve always had wings
Now I’m finally ready to fly.” ~ Words and Music: Richard Marx
“God takes care of us like a mother hen takes care of her chicks. She nurtures them, nestling them gently under her large wings. She protects them from harm, from outsiders, from the cold – from all that would threaten her tiny offspring. It is no dreary duty but a joy. She give her newly hatched sense of identity and teaches them how to live.
“He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His Truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Psalms 91:4
But God does even more. In Deuteronomy 32:11 we read that God is like a mother eagle, which “stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings.” When God sees that we are old enough to fly, He stirs up the nest, breaks up everything we have thought dear and priviliged. He expands our world and shows us how to fly. He shoves us out of the nest for us to try our own wings. All for our good. And ever watching as we fall, He glides under and scoops us up on His wings and carries us to safety. Over and over until we have learned to fly.
If mother hens and mother eagles work this hard and show this much love, don’t you think our Father, the God of the universe, can do as much and more for us?”
~ Leroy Brownlow
Eileen Light