Following My Rescuer
Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. Luke 18:43 (NIV)
There is one thing that all of us have in common. We have been rescued during our lifetimes; some more than once. Most of us have had a story to tell about these moments when our Rescuer saved our lives in one way or another. Singing praise and shouting “Thank You!” lasted for a while. But did we stay close to that helping hand? Jeanette Hanscome (All God’s Creatures) shares a heartwarming story.
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For more than a week, my family followed updates on a great horned owl that one of our neighbors helped to rescue. An Uber driver had seen the baby owl in the middle of the street in front of our neighbor’s house, and together they called a local wildlife rescue organization. After a thorough examination at the center, the owlet was found perfectly healthy and uninjured. He had just gotten separated from his mother somehow. After feeding and hydrating the baby, someone from the wildlife organization created a safe nesting place near where he had been found, left him there, and kept tabs on him, in hopes that the mother would return. She did. When we got the update, along with a picture of the mother and baby in a tree behind our neighbor’s house, we celebrated and shared the exciting news on social media.
Later in the week, our neighbor sent pictures of the mother owl perched on a branch near their back porch railing and another of the owlet just outside the patio. It was as if both owls wanted to be close to the people who had rescued the little one.
I thought of the blind man in the Bible who, after being healed, chose to stay close to Jesus. I reflected on some of my own experiences that I knew were “divine rescues.” Each one deepened my connection to Jesus and my desire to be in His presence.
That mother and baby owl eventually flew away, but I pray that no matter what life brings, I will stay near my Rescuer.
Tis so sweet to walk with Jesus,
Step by step and day by day.
Albert Benjamin Simpson
Loving Father, thank You for rescuing and saving us! Without You, we would not be able to live a life that would please You. Help us to stay close to You every day. AMEN.