God Stays Close to Us
January 1 2024
If you have read my inspirational thoughts over the years, you know that I loved working in my yard. Some days I could stay out there from sun up to sun down. I took breaks like someone on a time clock. I just loved creating a beautifully manicured lawn. I took pride in what I did.
My property was protected by a six foot fence that surrounded all 5 acres. When I cut the grass, I opened the back gate so I could dump my grass clippings and leaves. I usually closed and locked the gate once I was done.
One day I noticed a deer had strayed into the backyard. I went out and opened the back gate so he could leave. I tried to steer him to the opening, but for some reason he never saw it. When I would chase him, he would run to jump over the fence, but never cleared it and fell down almost as if he had broken his neck. After a few chases around the backyard, and seeing the danger of him trying to jump, I stopped. I just left the gate open and hoped that he would find his way to the exit.
I noticed for the next three or four days he would sit in a corner of the yard. Then his mother would come and sit there outside the fence with him all day long. I made sure he had water and kept hoping he would soon find his way out. I was intrigued by the devotion of the mother deer. She never left her baby alone. She did not wander into the backyard but made sure he knew she was there to support him.
One day I tried again to steer the deer to the opening. This time I succeeded. He walked over to the opening and looked back as he exited as if to say “thanks for the hospitality”. Then he jumped his way into the woods. I followed him as he jumped and waiting out there was the mother. Our eyes seemed to meet and then they jumped off together.
After thinking about this just recently, it reminded me that God feels the same way about us. He will never leave us. Even though we don’t see Him physically, we know He is with us and will never abandon us. He will remain right by our side to watch over us and see us through the trials and the tribulations.
With her presence the mother deer seemed to assure her young one that everything was going to be okay. Therefore, the baby deer never seemed to panic. Likewise, God assures us with His presence that all will be okay, so we have no need to worry or fear. He has always walked with us through the difficult periods of our lives. He has never left us alone and will never abandon us irrespective of how tough things become. Evidence of this is seen when the Hebrew boys were thrown into the fiery furnace, God showed up there with them.
As we enter into 2024, I pray this will be a year where we all come to a greater understanding of just how much God loves us. And because of His great love for us, He is committed to stay close forever.
Thank you, Father, for always being with us. We look forward to an amazing year!