The other day I heard a loud squawking fit and quickly ran to the kitchen window to see if my hens were in peril. You see, just a few days before Christmas, a hawk swooped down and grabbed one of my little black silkies and was tearing her apart--thankfully, I got to her in time and a vet stitched up her deep lacerations and sent her home with medicine and a tiny syringe to help her heal. I kept her in the house and then in the garage while she healed, and she has. Incredibly, her feathers have even grown back, and she appears to be good as new. Because she is so feisty, I named her Sassy.
The squawking I heard that morning? It was not Sassy, but her fellow silkie sister who was being harassed by one of the larger Golden Comets that was pecking her in the back. Sassy would have none of it. As I watched, she came to the aid of ‘Fluffy’1 puffing herself up as big as she could, rushing in on her tiptoes and pecking the Golden, actually running right over the top of her and across her back. The Golden got the message and went on her way, leaving Fluffy and Sassy alone.
podcast: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/3e9432f1/out-of-left-field-nature-preaches-272022
While it was cute, funny and heartwarming too, I thought instantly, ‘huh, there’s something to that’ and wished I had caught it on video..
In the last Morning Briefing I discussed the importance of having ongoing relationships with other like-minded people of faith, ‘other believers’. Sassy illustrated why these relationships are so important. Paul said it this way to the Christians in Rome ‘be devoted to one another in love.’2
And long before then, the writer of Ecclesiastes penned these very insightful words about the power of relationship: Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.3
That is because a cord of three strands is stronger.
Who makes you stronger? Do you have some faith-filled friends who will stick close, through thick and thin? Hmmm.
The other night I drove someone to Celebrate Recovery - a safe place to heal from hurts, habits (addictions) and hangups through accessing the power of the Almighty with a warm supportive friend who is similarly strengthened by the bond she also needs.4 I liked it--praying my friend will go back for such badly-needed help and community. We all need someone.
You know, relationship has always been God’s idea. We were made for it, and are less than without it. We need each other... even Fluffy knows that.
Let’s get intentional about finding our people~
Christine
Check it out: “I will carry you” ~ powerful song by Ellie Holcomb. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBGb5jG5v3Y
1 - because her tail feathers are so very fluffy
2 - Romans 12.10
3 - Ecclesiastes 4.9-12
4 -https://www.celebraterecovery.com a Christ centered, 12 step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind.