"Where are the ducks?" Howard asked as he peered toward the pond. I pointed until he saw them beyond the trees. There were more scattered farther along the edge of the water. Suddenly I saw something else! Bigger birds with long necks!
"Those are geese!" I exclaimed in excitement. Sure enough, maybe 15 or 20 beautiful, graceful geese were floating on the pond. It was the first time we'd seen them there! Mirrored on the shimmering water, they presented a gorgeous sight in nature! We watched in fascination as they glided along majestically in single file with heads held high like visiting royalty.
Suddenly, with tremendous flapping and the noise of slapping wings, they rose in an arresting display of strength and grandeur. Soon they were taking almost military formation in the sky at the unseen command of their leader. It wasn't as if we'd never seen geese before, but the wooded scene, the grey, chill, December day, and the fact that we were "up close and personal" added to our appreciation and wonder at these wild, feathered members of God's creation.
As we drove away, still marveling at our good fortunate at seeing the geese, a news bulletin came on the car radio. It sounded like they were saying something about the second-worst school shooting in U.S. history! As the details became clear, my heart broke with disbelief, sorrow and horror. A classroom full of little kids and their teacher! I had never heard of anything so diabolical! I couldn't hold back the tears as I grieved for the innocents and prayed for their families.
It reminded me of the verse in the Bible that says, "In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not," Matthew 2:18. It was from the prophet, Jeremiah, speaking of the slaughter of the innocents as wicked Herod sought to kill the baby Jesus. How ironic that this tragedy should happen at Christmas time, when we are getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus!
Even as the geese were winging their way heavenward, we had no idea these babes were being carried on angels' wings to the breast of their loving, heavenly Father, the God of all comfort, to romp and play in fields of untold beauty and unending joy and love, never again to be bothered by the fear and pain of this earth, in a land where every day is Christmas.
No comments:
Post a Comment