There was wild frenzy at the feeders, birds flying into the patio doors in terror. White downy feathers littered the ground. The hawk had hunted successfully. Sad, I thought as I went about my business.
Some time later, though, I saw a mallard duck outside, looking around and quacking quietly to herself. Was that Weeve?
We’ve known “Bob” and “Weeve” for years; they come every spring. We have watched their fluffy cloud of ducklings go past, heading for their first swim.
But now Weeve was alone. Where was Bob? He’s never far away. My heart sank. It couldn’t be, could it? Did the hawk get Bob? Oh, Lord! No!
Poor Weeve, I grieved. Poor Bob.
Yes, I grieved. Logic insists that it’s “just a duck,” but loss is loss, and worse when it’s someone you know.
These days, loss is everywhere. We do what we can, hyperaware of our space, hygiene, and “safety.” But what is “safe” when the enemy is unseen? The birds at the feeder felt safe – until they weren’t.
Just like us. Threat, disruption, fear and death. So many people. So much unknown. So much grief. So much loss. And nothing we can do.
Except pray. For ourselves, our loved ones, our communities, our nation, our world.
But praying for birds? Well, why not?
“Two sparrows are sold for a penny, aren’t they? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s permission … So stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows.” Matthew 10:29, 31 International Standard Version (ISV)
“Without your Father’s permission.” The hawk gets food only with God’s permission. No virus anywhere can touch us without it. And that is our safety.
A little later, I checked on Weeve. She was still there, and amazingly, so was Bob! God heard and answered my illogical, “unimportant” prayer for a duck! And if He heard that, how much more will He answer prayers for people! We are told,
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 New Living Translation (NLT)
“Pray about everything.” If it matters to us, it matters to the One who loves us more than we can imagine. God, Who alone holds our safety in His hands, always hears us. He promised.