My neighborhood is an entire ecosystem. Behind our house, there is a farm with cows and a donkey. There is a pond on the farm that is home to some ducks. On the street behind us, several of the homes have chicken coops. We’ve caught two snakes in our garage and found a few turtles in the culverts. Early in the morning you can often here the high pitched screeching of coyotes, and we have the usual rabbits, squirrels and occasional skunks. One day, I was in a rush to drop my kids off and there were two geese, just hanging out in the middle of the road. I didn’t even see them!
During the spring months, we noticed a pair of ducks that used to hang around at the end of our street. One was a mallard duck with the pretty green coloring and the other was a marbled or brown one. They would swim in the rain water in the culverts and walk down the street, eating grass (and whatever things ducks eat) out of the yards. At times, they would hide in the shade of the bushes. They were inseparable. We assumed that they had laid some eggs in the shade of one of the homes, but we never saw the eggs. We just saw them wandering the street, foraging for food and swimming together.
Throughout May and into June, we have had a rash of really severe weather. We’ve had days and days of heavy rain, strong winds, thunder, lightening, hail. Some areas have been dealing with flooding and fallen trees. The weather has been clear for the last week, and I know the coyotes have returned. I still hadn’t seen the ducks. I was getting a little worried about what might have happened to the little duck family.
Until this Saturday morning. As I was leaving my house for our event, I turned the corner and just happened to look at the empty lot at the other end of our street. It’s a huge grassy area that serves as the run off for the pond and our street. In the small cemented area of this lot, I saw the mama duck and three little ducklings walking along. The mama was walking beside them and the young ones were waddling along. It looked like she was talking to them, and in my head, she was telling them to look both ways as they were approaching the street.
Y’all. I was so happy when I saw these little animals walking along. I know that’s silly; they’re not even anyone’s pets. But it honestly reminded me of the goodness of God.
Isaiah 55:10-12 says:
“For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, making it bear and sprout, and providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
So will my word be which goes out of my mouth; It will not return to me void, without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter in which I sent it.
For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands”
This entire chapter is full of hope and promise for those in the Lord. That includes you and me. God’s word will accomplish what it has set out to do- no storms in life can deter this. Not only did God take care of these animals through some strong weather, but He made sure that I saw that their testimony of survival. How much more does He care for us?
I don’t know what storms maybe surrounding you in this moment, but I want you to know that God’s got you. His word over your life will not return void. It will accomplish all that it has set out to do.
-Shiney
