Calm Assurance

Dear Blogging Friends:  I thought you might want to see this.  For those of you who aren't familiar with true Florida nature...here is a picture that you probably won't like much, but it is what our native creatures have to live with...

If you've been following my posts you know that I've been watching this Sand Hill Crane on her nest for several weeks now.  

Well, last evening I took my usual walk to go check on her and take some pictures.  Because she is actually pretty far away from me, it is not easy to distinguish details until I view the picture on my computer.  So when I looked at this picture this morning, I noticed something a little different from previous pictures.  If you will look closely just to the right and behind Mama Crane, you will see a jagged black line along the edge of the mud.   That jagged line becomes smoother toward its right.  That, my friends, is an alligator.  Yes, that's what I said...an alligator, lying probably not more than three feet away from Mama Crane and her nest.  I knew I heard some croaking sounds last evening when I was taking these pictures, but I could not see this from my vantage point.  But I see it now...Yikes!  And look how calm and serene Mama Crane sits, as if impending doom and danger were not lurking right beside her...

 The only scripture that came to my mind as I looked at this was the 23rd Psalm:

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

2 

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

3 

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

4 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

6 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever.

 Oh! To have such peace in the presence of our enemies! What a beautiful picture this is for us today.



Of course, this morning I hurried to the pond to see if our Mama was still safe...and it was still a little too dark to see her clearly, but if you look closely you can see her form snuggled down on her nest...resting peacefully, but I am sure she is watching carefully should any enemy creep up on her. 

Who would think such evil was hiding in this peaceful setting?  May we realize that even when danger may be lurking in the shadows, Our God is with us...His Rod and Staff are there to comfort and protect us from all alarms.  May we rest peacefully in that wonderful knowledge and confidence. Amen.