Encouragement

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Last evening before sunset, I heard my husband yell at the dogs in the backyard. It was the kind of yell that alerted my attention to something he wanted them to stop. In that split second out the door I saw one of the dogs with nose down to the ground flinching away at another command. But it was difficult to see what was going on with a 90lb dog in the way so I continued out to the yard.

Then I saw this tiny baby bird through blades of grass surrounding it's body not much larger than a 9-volt battery. The tiniest one I had seen so far. We've had returning families of birds down through the years but this bird was so tiny I thought it was a baby finch. And we haven’t had many finches nest in our trees.

I waited as it chirped and hopped - but no momma bird swooped down to check on it, so I waited a little longer, only much further away.

What I saw next horrified me. A mocking bird plunged down aiming for the baby bird.

And just as quickly, the momma bird zoomed in and protected her young. It didn't matter to her that she was much smaller than the attacker.

What I found disconcerting though, was the mocking bird hanging around flitting from tree to fence, from fence to tree keeping an eye on that baby.

The momma bird did the same by going after that mocking bird each time she felt it was too close to her chick.

But it wasn't the momma that made the mocking bird finally leave. Another bird flew into the yard, soft and elegant. A presence all its own. It was a dove. I don't know what it was about the dove that made the menace leave, but it did.

And as I watched the baby bird try to fly as its mom encouraged it, time and time again, I thought of my children and the wings I encouraged them to stretch and strengthen so they could one day fly off to new experiences.

Then I thought of the dove, and I prayed God was assuring me that the Holy Spirit was always with them -- ready with the Power of His sweet presence against the predator who wanted to devour them.


"Thank You dear Lord for the Holy Spirit – a sweet Presence in all things, always on guard for our sakes. Ready as our Intercessor when we are helpless.

And Thank You dear Lord, for promising to never leave my children alone ... ever.

In Jesus Precious Name,
Amen"

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