Hawks!

I love hawks. I love watching them soar in the sky. Every now and then one small hawk comes and sits on our fence, especially in the winter. I think he is attracted by all the little birds that frequent Bob’s bird feeder throughout the day.

Several years ago, just as I was beginning to notice the symptoms of these auto-immune diseases, I was on my daily three-mile worship walk.  I had gone about one mile and began to feel fatigued and doubtful I could finish. I headed for home and as I did a beautiful hawk began “making lazy circles in the sky” just in front of me. In my spirit, I heard the LORD say, “It’s going to be okay. I’m here.”

Since that day, I have been battling the auto-immune diseases and side-effects of the treatments. It has not always been easy and there are days I do fine and other days I want to withdraw from everything. The funny thing is, every time I walk or drive somewhere when I am feeling anxious or down, I see a hawk in the sky (or on the fence)!  When that happens, I am reminded of that first hawk, and God’s promise to me … “It’s going to be okay. I’m here.”

I know that sounds silly. But twice last week as I headed out for doctor appointments, and once this week on the way back from one, there were hawks in the sky as I drove. There were not any when I drove to the store, or the bank, or the pharmacy.

So, silly as it may be, I find God’s reassurance of His love, His protection, His presence with me in the sky, in a hawk making “lazy circles.”

I also find His reassurance in His Word, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” [Hebrews 3:5b HCSB]

God’s Word and His little reminders of it keep me going no matter what I might face. Amen