I knew it
was going to be a rough week when I came home and my 2nd born said, “Mom,
something is wrong with Carl.”
Immediately, my heart sunk.
Despite every effort I have made to create a stable, loving home for my
children, somehow our mental health has become tied to a feathered piece of
creation weighing roughly 42 grams.* I
don’t know exactly how it happened but frankly, I blame my mother in law. Our relationship was fabulously complicated and
when she went to be with the Lord, I suspect she filed a request with Jesus on
behalf of her granddaughter. Though the
theology behind my reasoning is deeply flawed, the fact remains that shortly
after her passing, my daughter ended up with a budgie similar to the ones her
grandmother used to keep. God moves in
mysterious ways.
Examining Carl,
I had to agree with my daughter.
Something wasn't right, and the budgie was in some form of
distress. At this point dear friend, can
I encourage you to thoroughly investigate your clever ideas before you execute
them? Truly, truly I say unto you, DO
YOUR RESEARCH! If I had done more reading
before we adopted Carl, I might have
understood the shadowy world of the budgerigar’s reproductive organs. As it happens, I did not possess this
enigmatic knowledge and spent a week paying to interact with experts on the
subject.
To be
honest, it was a stressful week. My
daughter cares deeply for her little bird, and I was unable to make the
situation better. I did a lot of
praying. Over and over again, I found
myself unsure if my prayers were going to be answered they way I desired. I kept asking for God deliver me out of the
situation. Instead, with faithfulness,
God kept walking me step by step through the process. Have you ever experienced that Dear Friend? We pray frantically, as if prayer were a
magic wand that can be waved and presto – we will be delivered. Have you bumped into the reality that God doesn't always work like that?
There is a
lovely scripture that references God’s care for birds. I am sure you have read it before,
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground
apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all
numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are
of more value than many sparrows. Matt 10:29-31
This delightful picture
needs to be looked at in light of the chapter from which it is taken. Jesus is sending out his disciples to preach
the gospel and to perform miracles in his name.
He is also warning them of the persecution that awaits them. (The subtitle above verse 16 reads, “Persecution
Will Come.”) If you ever have the
temptation to put the above verse on a coffee mug, make sure the opposing side
of the mug includes a stylized drawing of someone being stoned. Otherwise, you are at risk of taking the
promises of God to feather your own comfy nest.
The entire segment of scripture reads as follows,
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered
that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light,
and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but
cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in
hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a
penny?[h] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all
numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are
of more value than many sparrows. So
everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my
Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny
before my Father who is in heaven. Matt
10:26-33
Darling
friend, can I remind you today, that God is not oblivious to your struggles. Those who seek to make your life more
difficult and those who are unkind do not escape His notice. He does not turn a deaf ear to the cries of
his children. If I was willing to walk
with my daughter through budgie reproductive drama, how much more is God
willing to attend you in your time of distress?
Your prayers may not be answered
the way you hope. You may need to incur
loss, grief and suffering. But this pain
is not being experienced in vain. It is
forging for you great character, strength and endurance. God is watching over you, ready to help you endure
the pain you desire to escape. Do not
stop praying or crying out for His deliverance, but understand that deliverance
is often difficult to recognize. You
are not forgotten, he will hold you fast and bring you through.
I am praying for you this week,
xoxKaren
*That’s 1.4 ounces American friend.
After
visiting the nicest vet in the entire world, it was discovered that Carl was in
fact ready to lay an egg. She has no
mate, but she can still accomplish this feat and is feeling very clever. (For
that matter so are millions of chickens.)
She has now laid two eggs and seems to be contemplating laying a
third.
