Monday Monday...A Lesson from Nature...

Happy Monday from Still Waters Pond...Thought I'd start off this week with a few pictures of our turtle friends out on the little marsh island in the pond.  We've had some bright, sunny days lately and the turtles are taking advantage of this time to do a little "sun-bathing".  

Today was actually quite chilly here, and I imagine the waters are kind of cold...so that sunshine must feel good to these cold-blooded reptiles.

We really don't get to see much of the turtle population out there in the pond unless the weather is just right and they decide to come up and enjoy the sunshine for a few hours.  I am not sure which ones these are...there are at least two different varieties I've seen here in our Still Waters Pond...the Florida Soft Shell Turtle, and the other is most likely some type of Florida Cooter.  This link will tell you more about these turtles:   https://www.boxturtles.com/florida-turtles

There are two here:

Although I enjoy seeing the turtles out there sunning themselves, I was NOT happy with them a couple of weeks ago, when I believe one very strong turtle decided to try to take on one of our beautiful Ring Necked Ducks for a potential meal.  

We watched helplessly from a distance as the duck swam for his life, apparently with the turtle attached to one of his feet. He swam and swam in circles quite a long time. I seriously wanted to go out there in my kayak and knock the turtle loose, but I learned some time ago not to interfere with nature.  

Eventually we believe the duck freed himself and flew away, although we did not actually see it happen, but from all indications we do believe it was able to extricate itself after a very long struggle.  However, all of the Ringed Neck Duck community took off and left our pond and has not returned since that event.  I hope they found some safer waters in which to swim and dive.  

I have to remind myself that the natural world is not always a safe and peaceful place. There are enemies lurking beneath the surface or along the shore or up in the trees, watching for opportunities to snatch a quick meal.  It is often a battle for the survival of the fittest.  

I don't mean to be gruesome or upsetting to anyone here...just stating the facts of life.  And it isn't limited just to the realm of nature.  We are all subject to the dangers of our adversary, the devil...who according to this warning in I Peter 5:8 ~

"8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

But I appreciate what the rest of the verses surrounding that particular passage have to say to us:

"6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

9 Resist him, (the devil), steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever." Amen.

If we humble ourselves before the Lord, and put our faith and trust in Him, not only will He show us how much He truly cares for us, but He will "perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you..."

Just like that duck, who swam and struggled against a formidable foe for sometime, I honestly believe that he literally wore out the turtle and the turtle let him go.  We could say that God gave him the strength to hang in there and fight and finally the turtle gave up and the duck was able to fly away to join his family.  And apparently the ducks were intelligent enough to know that they needed to stay away from this enemy and have not returned.

When we are faced with formidable foes, whether they be from the "nether world" of Satan and his dominion, or perhaps we are faced with difficult circumstances of health, finances, family or other personal issues, we need to remember to be humble before the Lord.  Seek His face and surrender our heartaches and issues to Him, and He will give us the STRENGTH we need to fight our foes.  I love that part of verse 10 that says "after you have suffered a while"...yes, we all do go through some deep waters as a part of this life, but God will actually perfect us in this process...He will establish and strengthen us, and this is what I love...He will "settle you".    I love that feeling of finally being "settled" after struggling with life's issues...it's that feeling of being tucked into bed by a loving parent after a difficult day, the covers are pulled up snuggly around us, and we are tenderly caressed and kissed goodnight, and we are settled...totally at peace, and ready to drift off to sleep without a care in the world...because Jesus is there with us, taking care of all our concerns.  

As an added postscript...thank you for your prayers for us last week as my hubby had a follow up appointment with his surgeon from the surgery/procedure he had done last fall. The report was very good and encouraging, and we are very very thankful to God for His healing.  He will continue to have periodic check ups just to be sure of nothing changing...but the Doctor was very pleased with his progress.  This was very comforting to us.  

I hope this post has not been disturbing to anyone, but only a reminder to us to always "cast your care on the Lord, for He cares for you." That is the good news that gives us peace and comfort.  

Good night dear friends! Praying you will be "settled" and at peace. Amen.