Don't Go Out Of Your Way

Genesis 1:22 – And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. (KJV)
Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (KJV)

An out-of-town friend phoned to say she wouldn't be able to accompany us on our regular walk as she was without a car. Upon offering to come and get her, she replied "Oh no, I live too far out, I wouldn't want you to go out of your way!"

It wasn't out of my way and I did go to pick her up, leaving in lots of time, as I wasn't familiar with her area. As I'd arrived a little early, she wasn't ready and invited me in, whereupon she offered me the opportunity to look through their telescope, which was trained on a mother eagle that been sitting for several weeks on the eggs in her nest.The father was sitting majestically keeping watch in another tree.

Apparently eagles mate for life and this pair had been in that spot for several years. I felt a bit like an intruder, but the mother was so fascinating. She remained sitting for a bit, but then got up and started to rustle around, fidgeting with something in the nest. I asked if the eggs could have hatched, or perhaps she was just turning them over. Suddenly she flew to another tree, landed on a branch, raised her head high and let out a long, loud call. Something was definitely going on, for that was the first time she had left her eggs. We hoped it was a hatching, but because of the depth of the nest, we couldn't see anything through the telescope.

The next afternoon I got the word. My friend called to confirm that indeed the eggs had hatched, as she'd seen at least one little head bobbing up and down.

To have seen the mother eagle was a blessing in itself, but to be witness (no matter how remote) to her call announcing the birth of her babies was truly a great gift from God. And to think I would have missed it if I hadn't "gone out of my way".

It is in those times where we have the choice to do for others, or do for ourselves, the choosing to do for others is choosing the way of the Lord; seeking diligently to please Him. And in so doing, we are rewarded in so many, many ways — such as seeing the eagles and the birth of the baby eaglets.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we give thanks for those little miracles we see when we least expect it. We thank you for the many wondrous ways in which you reward us while doing something for someone else. May we see those opportunities to help others not only as doing your work, but as seeing your work being done. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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