The Baby Turtles

Psalm 8:4-6 – What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority. (NLT)

Recently, while on a cruise through the Panama Canal, my friend and I ran out of film. A visit to the ship's photographer fixed that, with an underwater camera. However, we didn't go under water, swimming with the dolphins, as some did; rather, we went to a beach to help some baby turtles find their way to the ocean. Those turtles were really cute and so tiny, lying in my hand, with their little legs kicking frantically to get to the ocean, and their little eyes looking all around to see everything. What a picture! Later the developed picture showed hundreds of marks in the sand, showing what was left behind as the baby turtles made their way to the ocean. Just marks on the sand!

That shore excursion was great fun, but it made me wonder what we look like to our Creator: just marks on the sand, or footsteps of beloved human beings? It continues to amaze me that the Lord God picks us up and places us close to life's ocean, where, for our own good, we need to go. That divine photo would be of a loving, caring God, picking up His beloved creatures carefully from the sand, forgiving their confusion, and lovingly caring for them here on earth. We have those eternal photos in the Bible.

What are we, O Lord, that You care so much for us? You put everything under our feet, so that we can be strengthened as we walk (swim) through life. We have not always cared for that upon which we stand. Forgive us, Lord, for our careless abuse of the earth's offerings. May we turn our eyes upon You, so that we can look with more care on all Your blessings and rejoice at Your merciful provision.

Through the focus of a divine camera, completely covered with Jesus' earthly body, we see everything differently. The photo we now see is of ourselves held by Jesus, cleansed of sin and washed by His hands. We are forgiven and led through life because we have a Creator who cares for us. Like the turtles, as life's currents catch us and carry us along, we face deep sorrows and many troubles. But by faith in God, it is very reassuring to know that the love of Christ sees all His own safely home to heaven.

Prayer: As we look back at the journeys of our lives, O God, we have had our struggles. We confess our constant need of Your loving protection. The human journey is not easy. Like the turtles, we are constantly facing dangers. Our need for safe homes and sufficient food faces us each day. Some of Your children, Lord, are starving and face constant turmoil. We pray that You will take up into Your loving care those who need You. Please hold them today, and gently place them back onto their life's path. Someday, O God, we will arrive safely home, and find there a joyous welcome from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

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