It's been a sad week without Rahab around. Her empty food dishes...Her favorite spot to lay, now empty...Going out to check on her at night, only to remember that I don't need to...Deboning a chicken for the first time in 11 years without her directly under my feet.
As I have been processing the loss of Rahab this week, I have found myself contemplating death in general. Death is a natural part of life...so they say. Natural? It occurred to me that death may be the most UNNATURAL thing that we experience on this earth. Yes, unless we are alive at the return of Christ, we will ALL die. When I say its unnatural, I mean that it was never part of the perfect plan...
You know...
the plan where God created the heavens and the earth...
the plan where He created plants, animals, birds, and fish...
the plan where He created man and woman in His image and placed them in paradise where they could commune with Him intimately whenever they wanted to...
the plan where He sat back and looked at all that He created and declared "It is GOOD!"
Death was not part of THAT plan...
...but the EXCITING thing?!? It's not part of HIS future plan! The older I get and the more of this broken world I'm exposed to, the more my heart LONGS for Heaven.
...and the OTHER exciting thing?!? We don't have to wait! We can be a part of experiencing Heaven on earth...right here...right now. We can be a part of experiencing redemption...restoration...healing ...wholeness...LIFE where there was once DEATH. In John, Jesus said, "I came that they may have LIFE and have it ABUNDANTLY!" LIFE...ABUNDANTLY... This EXCITES me!
During this week of grieving, God gave us the opportunity to witness new life...a reminder of His perfect plan. In a little 6 ft tree right outside our front door, this was taking place at the perfect height for our viewing. I'll let the pictures tell the story...
A Perfect Home...
Nesting
(I had to use my "super zoom" lens to capture this lil momma on her nest.)
Day 1
Day 5
Day 7
Day 10
Day 11 - Flying Day!
This little guy ventured out first. Here he is perched at the edge of his nest.
We actually saw him take his first flight...right over Ally's head...where he pooped on her shoe...
...while Momma coached from a nearby rooftop!
This little guy took a turn next. He ventured out onto a tree limb, surveyed the challenge in front of him...
...and then promptly wound up back here. Safety...security...the world just looked like too much to tackle today. Many days I can relate... :) We became his cheerleaders. The next day he took the plunge. Momma bird wasn't the only proud one...
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