Harmless as Doves

Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  – Matthew 10:16

I read a story about farmer’s wife who tried to help two different birds on two separate occasions.  The first time, there was a hawk stuck in the barn with a damaged wing.  She moved all kinds of items just to back it into a corner where she could possibly try to help the bird.  This process took place every time she would try to help.  Each time she tried to bandage or apply ointment to the wounds, she was met with fierce talons and loud squawks.  One day, the hawk hurt her pretty badly, so she let him run out (not fly) and never saw it again.

Years later, a dove would be found on its back in her driveway.  The bird cooed in fear as she lifted it into her hands.  The bird looked pretty roughed up and could not fly because of a badly damaged wing.  Unlike the hawk, there was no fight.  After about one month of feeding, watering, and doctoring the wing, the bird took flight and soared back into the heavens.  

Reading that story, I understood Matthew 10:16 for maybe the first time.  How many years did I fight God?  There He was trying to help me by sending people time and time again to let me know what I needed to do, how I needed to behave, and how I needed to live.  There was His Holy Word sitting on my nightstand calling for me to be healed, but I ignored it.  I fought Him every step of the way.  I thought He was mean.  I thought He was trying to hurt me.  I thought He just wanted to make me do things I didn’t want to do.  I thought He was just trying to keep me from having any fun.  Nothing could have been further from the truth.  I am so glad and so thankful that He didn’t give up! 

Lord, thank You for making me more and more like the dove as the years go by.  Thank You for sending this story to me.  With all my heart, I want to allow You to work on me so that I too may soar in the heavens.  Help me rise above all the pettiness that this world sucks me into so quickly.  There is and never will be another like You, my God, my rock, my healer, and my redeemer.  Amen