But with
each new, pink baby that I have often compared to a wad
of gum rolled in a few downy feathers, I am continually
amazed at how different each one is. It isn't their color
variations that I am referring to. It is their individual
character and quirks. You wouldn't think that something
so small and insignificant would have a unique character,
but they do.
I just recently reared
three that were close in age and they are now independent
and ready for new owners. But with each one, I would
reach my hand into the make-shift nursery/brooder {an aquarium}
and pluck them up, one-by-one, to feed and interact with
individually. The littlest was an
aggressive eater and when he ate, he had a tendency to
spit food all over. I would have to clean him {and me} up when
he was done. So, I would push up my sleeves and step back
just a little, with out stretched arms, to do the job.
The second one was the calm one. Easy to feed, gentle,
and generally just a little nicer to hold. The third one
was the one that frustrated me the most , but is most
endearing to me now. More beautiful than the other two in
color, he had his own little quirks. He wouldn't take all
of his feeding at one time. He had to take a break half
way through and forcing him was NOT going to happen. He would look around, curious about other things, and it was hard for me to get his attention when I knew he should eat. And,
he has this crazy little dance he does where he hops up
and down while he eats , and his sharp, little toenails catch on
everything, including my hands.. They all do that to some
degree, but he kind of looks like Jerry Lewis when he
does it. Patience was the only virtue that would get the
job done. I couldn't just walk away.
But while I was doing
this the one day, I thought of the likeness between these
silly little birds and us as God's people. You think of lots of weird things during pre-dawn and midnight feeding. The house is quiet and it is just me and that tiny, little being who is completely dependent on me.
God deals with
us individually and knows before hand exactly how to
handle us. He puts up with our varying temperaments,
reaching His hand into our lives' nourishing us and
interacting in a way that only He can.
He is patient with us when we are distracted by other things, and at times He must remove those distraction in order to minister to us.
We may be
unnoticeable to the world around us, but He knows everything
there is to know about us individually. More than that,
He knows our needs before we do. In our life, we are
totally dependent on him even when we don't know it. We
can go about our life and day ignorant to all the
preparation and care, within His sovereignty,that He is taking.We take it for granted
that His hand will come into our circumstances and work all things through, bringing all things to the outcome that He has pre-ordained for our ultimate best. He knows how to get from A to Z because He has done it many times before. And, if He is slow, according to our
timing, we raise up our head and squeal to get His
attention. He is long suffering and watches over our little brooder while we sleep and makes sure we are safe even though we are truly insignificant. He doesn't miss a beat when the world does not understand why He would take such care for us. He is ever faithful with his gentle care. His love is timeless and tireless...and forevermore......... Lessons from the hatchlings...
by Margaret Hoffman
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