I was walking out to spray the periwinkles one recent afternoon. Those beautiful little flowers wilt easily in the heat, and we have found that several cool mists a day can keep them alive. Lately the heat has been especially oppressive, highs in the upper 90s with a heat index of 110. Stepping outside is like stepping into an oven, one with steam vents, so frequent spraying is necessary.
As I rounded the corner something off to the side jumped. I stopped immediately. In our area, especially in the afternoon shade, when something moves, you stop and do not continue on until you have identified it. Whatever it was had also stopped. I took one more step and it moved again. Something very small jumped up to the huge live oak on the east side of the house and clung to the trunk. I backed up slowly, then turned around and went for the binoculars.
When I came back it moved again, and this time I realized it was flying, sort of. Even though it was only ten feet away I could not tell what it was until I had focused the lenses on the rough taupe bark. It was a tiny brown puffball of a bird. I stepped closer and this time two flew. Another step and I saw a third. Then a wren sang above my head and I turned to see two full grown adults watching from the roof line. Now I was sure. That scraggly nest on top of the push broom hanging in the carport had managed to produce babies after all—at least three.
About that time Magdi came to investigate. Any time I stand still and she notices, she comes to my side. I think she is in protector mode, assuming I have seen something dangerous. All the babies flew then and she gave chase. The last one was not quite as adept at flying. It barely made it to the handlebars of the push mower in the smaller shed. Keith had come out by then to see too. Quickly he called her off. She can chase down all the rattlesnakes and water moccasins she wants to, but a baby wren is off limits. We watched a few more minutes, keeping rein on the dogs, then managed to get them away, interested in something else so the baby birds would be safe—at least from two Australian cattle dogs.
Isn’t that what God has promised us? Not that we will never be tempted; not that we will never have trials and tribulations, but that He will keep watch and there will never be more than we can handle. The Lord is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted above that which you are able to bear, 1 Cor 10:13. He is always watching over us, ready to shoo the Devil away if things get too difficult.
Still, it is up to us to resist. It is up to us to endure. He won’t do that for us—we have to flap our own wings and fly away. I am certain that last little wren learned to fly a little better that day, beating those wings faster and harder as the danger approached, a danger a hundred of times bigger and heavier than it was. The next time it will be easier. If we are not there, it will stand a better chance.
But God is never “not there.” He knows the limits of our endurance. He knows what we need to grow strong. He knows how to keep the dangers away from us far better than we can keep the dogs away from those baby wrens. We had to go inside eventually and leave them to themselves, but God will never leave us alone. The Lord Himself learned how to endure and He will help us any way He can.
When things get tough, flap your wings a little faster and trust.
I will lift up my eyes unto the mountains: from where shall my help come? My help comes from Jehovah who made Heaven and earth. He will not suffer your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Jehovah will keep you from all evil, He will keep your soul. Jehovah will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever more, Psa 121: 1-3,7,8.
Dene Ward
As I rounded the corner something off to the side jumped. I stopped immediately. In our area, especially in the afternoon shade, when something moves, you stop and do not continue on until you have identified it. Whatever it was had also stopped. I took one more step and it moved again. Something very small jumped up to the huge live oak on the east side of the house and clung to the trunk. I backed up slowly, then turned around and went for the binoculars.
When I came back it moved again, and this time I realized it was flying, sort of. Even though it was only ten feet away I could not tell what it was until I had focused the lenses on the rough taupe bark. It was a tiny brown puffball of a bird. I stepped closer and this time two flew. Another step and I saw a third. Then a wren sang above my head and I turned to see two full grown adults watching from the roof line. Now I was sure. That scraggly nest on top of the push broom hanging in the carport had managed to produce babies after all—at least three.
About that time Magdi came to investigate. Any time I stand still and she notices, she comes to my side. I think she is in protector mode, assuming I have seen something dangerous. All the babies flew then and she gave chase. The last one was not quite as adept at flying. It barely made it to the handlebars of the push mower in the smaller shed. Keith had come out by then to see too. Quickly he called her off. She can chase down all the rattlesnakes and water moccasins she wants to, but a baby wren is off limits. We watched a few more minutes, keeping rein on the dogs, then managed to get them away, interested in something else so the baby birds would be safe—at least from two Australian cattle dogs.
Isn’t that what God has promised us? Not that we will never be tempted; not that we will never have trials and tribulations, but that He will keep watch and there will never be more than we can handle. The Lord is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted above that which you are able to bear, 1 Cor 10:13. He is always watching over us, ready to shoo the Devil away if things get too difficult.
Still, it is up to us to resist. It is up to us to endure. He won’t do that for us—we have to flap our own wings and fly away. I am certain that last little wren learned to fly a little better that day, beating those wings faster and harder as the danger approached, a danger a hundred of times bigger and heavier than it was. The next time it will be easier. If we are not there, it will stand a better chance.
But God is never “not there.” He knows the limits of our endurance. He knows what we need to grow strong. He knows how to keep the dangers away from us far better than we can keep the dogs away from those baby wrens. We had to go inside eventually and leave them to themselves, but God will never leave us alone. The Lord Himself learned how to endure and He will help us any way He can.
When things get tough, flap your wings a little faster and trust.
I will lift up my eyes unto the mountains: from where shall my help come? My help comes from Jehovah who made Heaven and earth. He will not suffer your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Jehovah will keep you from all evil, He will keep your soul. Jehovah will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever more, Psa 121: 1-3,7,8.
Dene Ward
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