Hop-a-long and His Friends
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV)
Birds of all kinds have always fascinated me, and I thank my maternal grandparents for their wonderful teaching. This devotion by Tracy Joy Jones (All God’s Creatures) caught my eye because our neighbors have some happy, hybrid mallards who never try to leave home. Tracy’s message is reflective and hits home with a thud!
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My parents have a love-hate relationship with the ducks that adopt them every spring. My mom loves them. My dad hates them—not because he hates ducks but because my mom feeds them every day. When the ducks come to the back door to “knock” for their dinner, they tend to mess on the deck. But my mom can’t help herself. She named this year’s tribe of hybrid mallards: Bossy Pants, Tom & Jerry, and Hop-a-long.
Hop-a-long was either injured or born with a wounded foot. He limps along behind the others, but his brothers often turn to look for him. They wait for him when he drops too far behind. And when they come to my mom’s door, they don’t fight for his food. Instead, they wait in line, and each takes its turn at being fed.
I don’t see this kind of generosity in nature. In fact, if you watch nature programs, it seems like all of creation is out to kill one another. I suppose in some ways, it is. But creation is also a reflection of the glory of God, and I believe we see His nature and His heart for us if we lean in a little and look for it. I see God’s glory both in my mom’s ducks and in the people God surrounds me with—the ones who wait for me when I am wounded. The ones who check on me when I fall behind.
We all have a Hop-a-long in our lives. And we’ve all been the duck who fell behind. I’m so thankful for the friends who remember to look back, and I am challenged to be that kind of friend today.
Jesus, open my eyes to see the needs of those around me. May I be Your hands and feet to those who are hurting today. Give me patience and grace to help those who have fallen behind. AMEN.