Waiting on God is Sometimes Like Feeding Ducks

Why is it that the most thought-provoking idea comes as you lie back on your pillow to go to bed at night? It was after midnight and the house was quiet as I tiptoed into our bedroom and slipped into the waiting covers. My eyes closed and then it happened - that thought that wouldn't stop! It was as though my mind had a screen (like a full-screen monitor) and the words were flashing at me, "Waiting on God is sometimes like feeding ducks." My eyes rolled in annoyance as I thought, "Nooooooo! I need to go to sleep!" But the words kept flashing on the screen in my mind. I must admit I was a bit cranky when I asked the Lord, "What is it, Lord, that you are trying to tell me" From past experience, I knew that getting out of bed meant that I would easily be up into the wee hours of the morning writing. I also knew that I had a full day awaiting me and I really needed to get some sleep. The Lord reminded me of our system, so I quickly got up, jotted the main thought on a tablet I keep in our dressing area. Climbing back into bed I prayed, "God, PLEASE help me remember this thought AND for now allow my body and mind to rest."

God is so gracious! Sleep came, morning came, and the thought came - again, "Waiting on God is sometimes like feeding ducks." In pondering the statement this morning, my mind quickly went to this past weekend. Our grandchildren and their family were here for a visit and a trip to the playground area was promised at some point in the day. The promise soon realized, we arrrived at the playground area with great anticipation. Our grandgirls saw the ducks that were in the pond area behind the playground. Bread was retrieved from our house (thank you, Saba) and the feeding of the ducks began in earnest. There were two kinds of ducks floating on the pond. There was the Aflack family (pictured above) and then there were these motley looking ducks (see picture to the left). The nicest thing that one might possibly say of these ducks is that they were NOT handsome! In fact, they were really kind of scary looking.

While the ducks were well-trained as to the feeding ritual, we were not. In a matter of minutes our grandgirls were quickly overcome by the persistent and sometimes pushy ducks! At one point one of our grandgirls literally threw her slice of bread on the ground and ran in the opposite direction! Once ALL the bread was expended, the feeding ritual quickly ended and the ducks returned to the water and not to bother us again. Somehow the ducks instinctively knew the feeding time was over.

How is waiting on God sometimes like feeding the ducks? We come waiting on God not really knowing wait to expect. Anticipation high as to what God will do, we anxiously await His movement. Then, our worries, anxieties and fears come to be fed. The distraction of feeding these persistent "ducks" soon captures our attention and we find ourselves quickly overwhelmed. The waiting on God time has become a time of fear and fleeing from His presence. We allow the ducks to keep us from being still and waiting on God and sometimes we miss His movement in our circumstances.

So this morning, I asked God to help me be like a tree planted by the water. I long to be still, drink in all the nutriments that God's everlasting water offers. I want to bask in His presence and not be distracted by the ducks (fears, worries, anxieties or the "what ifs"). Lord, please help me to be still and rest in You! Lord, please allow Your Word to soak into my heart, fill my spirit with your peace and joy as I wait for You.

"He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:8 (NIV)