Picturing being under God's wings 12/2/08

Since computers and email I have received many stories, and warnings of bad things will happen if I don’t forward, or if I do forward, to at least 10 people, good fortune will come my way. I love to receive some of these tid bits and short stories but I don’t like to be forced by guilt to forward. I decide whether I want to forward or not! One of the stories I received was about a charred chicken found at the base of a fir tree during an inspection of a contained forest fire. The fireman saw it and saw how grotesque it looked. He kicked it with his foot and several baby chicks ran out from underneath the wings of a charred mother hen.
Another little story I saw in a newspaper many years ago. It was about an abandoned warehouse which had burned down. The story goes that as the firemen were beginning to spray down the building they saw a baby kitten hidden in some trash just outside the large door that was opened just a smidgen at the bottom. As he reached down to pick up the kitten a smoke laden mother cat was scurrying over to the trash and deposited another kitten. Before he could stop her she turned and ran back inside the burning building. In just moments she returned with another and before he could get her she ran back inside. All in all she brought out 5 baby kittens and then collapsed. The fireman immediately began to attend to the mother cat. Although she was singed, blackened from the smoke and with hardly a breath in her because of smoke inhalation, she was still alive!. She was taken to the vet along with her babies and was eventually nursed back to health.
It is always amazing how the animal kingdom acts upon instinct not love. Survival is important in the animal kingdom. We have watched momma and pappa birds building nests, being very protective of the eggs. Even after the babies are hatched , they hover around the nest and take turns feeding the young. Years ago I walked into my backyard and was attacked by a couple of birds. Even our dog was not safe! I finally called Jim at work and he came home. We discovered that several of the babies had fallen out of a nest and into our backyard. Jim turned the hose on and tried to pick up the babies and place them on the other side of the retaining wall because we didn’t know where their nest was. At the same time, he tried to protect himself by turning the spray of water upon the parent birds. It was scary and a little exciting. Finally it was safe again in our yard! For a time we thought we were in a remake of the movie called ‘The Birds’!
Many times animals are known for abandoning their young! Abandonment by human parents is also a well known factor. I have never understood that! I guess it is because my Mother and Father never gave up their children even though hardships were greater because of having so many children.
In Matthew 23:37 Jesus is lamenting over Jerusalem. He said they would kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to her. Jesus says; "I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling". What a safe place for those little chicks in the forest fire Even though the mother hen suffered and died, her little ones were safe under her wings. In Psalm 17 David is asking God for protection from his enemies. David says; Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me in the shadow of Thy wings". Even in the shadow of God’s wing David could find safety. In Psalm 91 David is seeking security for one who puts his trust in the Lord. Verse 4 reads; "He will cover you with His pinions and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.".
When we are lost and can’t find our way, our heavenly Father will lift us up out of the miry clay and protect us under His wings. Can you picture it? Can you picture the storm clashing all around us? Can you picture finding shelter under His wings? Jane Ann