WELCOME BACK TO A NEW SEASON

“ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGH A PARAKEET“

By now, you’ll have recognized the fact that I enjoy and love animals – all sizes – all types (with a few crawling & slithering exceptions).  In fact, as I glance out my window at 6 am or 3 pm, two little wild bunnies make their daily appearance for pieces of a carrot, or the skins of an apple.  We are not on speaking terms, but they recognize my appearance and hear tone of my voice as I talk tenderly to them as I toss out their “daily treats.”  I choose to speak softly as I wouldn’t want my neighbors to hear my endearing voice to my two tiny “furry friends.”

The bunnies also have concierge service, as our little dog announces when they arrive, and barks once to let me know that my service will soon need to commence.

What brings laughter and joy to me is that they are always on time, which makes me wonder if they have a hidden “smart bunny watch.”  It delights me to know that God see me!  He sees you too…every moment of every day.

Genesis 16:13 “She (Hagar) gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her:  You are the God Who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

Psalm 34:15 “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry.” 

This verse points out, God not only is seeing you, but that He is attentive to your cries, he hears your needs, listens to your heartaches, and reflects on the longings of your heart.

This event that I’m writing about took place in the morning when I headed out with our little papillon dog, Puppet, on a morning stroll.  We have coyotes in Arizona, so I make it a habit to carry a loud emergency whistle and ensure that my eyes continue in motion looking out for such predators.

At the end of the street where we were walking, I made a U-turn to return home.  All along our route, our dog is sniffing and checking out any mobile rabbits that happen to move throughout the territory.  There must be hundreds of rabbits in our area alone, so there is lots of entertainment for the little dog to be captivated by.

I’m sure you’ve had experiences in your life with Jesus, discovering that He loves to surprise us, delight us, guide us and look after us in every way.   And, He chooses any thing and any one to employ as His “instrument of touch” along our path, and guide our decision-making process.

We’ve been in the “waiting room” for eight months for a need to be met in our lives according to God’s timing and purpose.  This particular day was difficult as I had been probing and asking the Lord for some sign of encouragement to confirm that we were on the “right road” so-to-speak regarding our decision about a matter.  I just needed reassurance of His direction and wisdom.

Yes, I know He is all-wise and omniscient (all-knowing), but my human spirit needed a down-to-earth confirmation of that.  Have you been there too in matters of your own life?

Wee Puppet and I had turned around to head home on our regular route, but within just a couple of minutes I saw Puppet sniffing along the rocks just inches from the sidewalk.  As I glanced over, I couldn’t believe my eyes.  There on the rocks was a green and yellow parakeet!   This little creature never moved when our dog gently sniffed around close to her little body. 

I immediately recognized that something was different as the bird never moved.  Instinct of love immediately kicked into action, I leaned over and began to talk softly to this tiny little bird and I picked her up and cuddled her in my hands.

NOW WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

My thoughts were that I’d bring her home and put her in our small bathroom and call someone to help.  I picked up my pace to head home, the route that “I always choose to walk.”  That’s an important statement in this story to remember.

We had only travelled a few houses, and as I looked ahead, a dog and its owner were heading in our direction.   Here I am with dog leash on one arm and bird nestled in both of my hands.  The big issue here is that if our dog sees another dog, she begins to get restless and jumps and becomes a bit unruly.

Oh my, can you see and feel my dilemma.  This approaching intrusion on our journey would cause me not to be able to hold ever-so-gently on to the bird.  This is when I called out to Jesus to help me.   Instantly I made a turn onto another street to calm the potential disaster of an imminent barking and jumping event.

After rounding the corner, within a minute, I saw an open garage and a man working inside.  I hustled my tootsies over to him, yelling out that I needed help.   I needed a “box.”   As I approached the garage and spoke to him about my need, he was willing to help and obtained a box from his garage.   The next thing I know, his wife came out and I told her about the events that had just occurred.  I’m still hand-caring the bird with a leash tethered to my left arm.

Alas, she knew of a man in our neighborhood that takes calls from people who have emergency issues with animals.  She phoned him right away and he took down my address and indicated that he’d be there at my home in ten minutes.

Well, I was more than a ten-minute walk away from my home; but, the women said she’d drive me, the dog and bird “in hand” to my home.  If we could have gotten all this kafuffle on video, it would have gone viral.  We all carefully got into her car, and off we went for the two-minute drive to my home.

Upon arrival, I said that my keys were in my pocket and could she get them out and let us all inside.  We weren’t home 5 minutes when the man showed up with a “tiny” cage for the bird AND…. a woman who volunteered at a sanctuary for injured birds.  How remarkable is that!!  

All this time, the little parakeet was nestled and resting in my two hands.  The woman took the bird in the little soft lined cage to the bird sanctuary.  She promised that she would phone me with the outcome.

Within the hour she phoned to tell me that the bird had died.  And yes, I began to cry.  She encouraged me that the bird was probably cold and was out in the elements too long to survive.  My two hands brought her last hour in life, warmth and security…. but God thought it best that nature take its course.

Even as I write about this true event, it makes me sad.  But this isn’t the end of the story.  That little “fine-feathered-friend” was used by the Creator and my Father to teach me and encourage me that day.

He used a little parakeet to assure me that He knows what He is up to in our lives.   You see, I had my walking route all figured out, and when the approaching dog came into view, it “forced me to take a turn in a direction I had no idea of taking” so that God could provide a couple, working in their garage, to respond to my need and get me (and the dog and the parakeet) safely home.  He connected me with two individuals who could offer me the assistance that was required.

Had I continued on “my chosen route” I could have been no help to this tiny parakeet.    

Psalm 37:23 “The Lord directs the steps of the godly.  He delights in every detail of their lives.   Yes, EVERY DETAIL OF OUR LIVES!

I’ve been mentally active in the following verse!

Proverbs 20:24 “A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?”

It wasn’t until a few minutes after I handed over the little bird, did I comprehend and fully appreciate that God was using these events to encourage me that “His route, His ways, His guidance, His wisdom, and His care, would take me the “best route” in my life, and He was assuring me of His direction.   You see, if I’d have gone the way I thought was best, things wouldn’t have been best nor the safest for all concerned.

We often look for the “big events” in our lives for God to speak through.   So often, He uses just the “little….uneventful” route to make His ways known.

You know, many times God’s ways make no human sense…. for He is God and He knows all the pitfalls and dangerous curves. He sees the future ahead of us, and He wants us to follow and yield to His leading and His sovereign direction and providence as He orchestrates each hour of our day.

My prayer is that you’re encouraged in your life to trust Him, as I’m learning that too.  He’s even so tender as to use people and even little parakeets to assure us that He knows the “best route” for each of us to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6 nlt “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” 

Here’s a sweet photo!