Owl Blessings
So, if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father gives good gifts to those who ask Him. Matthew 7:11 (NLT)
There are times when my requests are simple; “Please let me see a mama bear and two cubs.” And then He blesses me with a mama and three cubs! I am overwhelmed with gratitude and share my story with everyone who will listen. Julie Lavendar (All God’s Creatures) tells us about a double blessing with her grandson and owls. It’s a good one!
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Three-year-old Benaiah cupped the owl call in his hands and followed my husband, David. Before our visit with our grandson, we’d shared, via FaceTime, about the owl we heard one night. Convinced his granddaddy could produce the owl upon command, Benaiah bounced up and down as he handed the man-made device to David.
“The owl might be sleeping, Benaiah.” I wanted to prepare my grandson for disappointment; still I whispered a prayer: God, please let us hear the owl tonight.
David blew into the handheld call and a perfect WhoWho, WhoWhoooo broke the silence of dusk. Benaiah stretched his dimpled, small hands for the call, then moved the device to his lips. Whooo. Whooo.
“Good job, buddy, “I replied.
David and I made eye contact. The call didn’t sound very owl-like, but it was a stellar first try for a three-year-old.
WhoWho, WhoWhooo. Benaiah tried again to mimic my husband.
We listened and heard only silence. David moved us farther from the house and closer to the woods. “Try it again,” he said.
Benaiah pressed the wooden surface against his lips: WhoWho, WhoWhooo.
As quickly as the sound left the call, not one but two owls replied in a cacophony of hoots, bantering back and forth. We watched them fly close. One landed in the top of a pine tree, just above us. The other perched in the oak nearby.
“Right there, owl,” Benaiah said, pointing to the beautiful birds.
“You did it, Benaiah!” I was so excited that I practically squealed.
On the way back to the house, I sent up a prayer to the One who really brought the owls for us to see.
Thank You, God. What a treat!
An owl sound wandered along the road with me. I didn’t hear it—I breathed it into my ears.
—William Stafford.
Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing us with more than we ask for. Your faithfulness is evident even when ours is not. Teach us to be more aware of Your gifts. AMEN.