The Death of a Dove~

  I stepped out my front door dressed and ready

 for my afternoon walk only to find there was a stillness in the air.

I stood there for a second looking and listening carefully.

Not a bird, squirrel, or turkey was in sight;

it was much too quiet.

 I then noticed what appeared to be some tiny bird feathers
laying on the driveway straight ahead of me.
They had a glistening effect as the little ray of sunshine
beamed through the clouds giving them a beautiful silver tint.

It had been snowing lightly all day, the type of snow

that quickly turns to water drops on the ground.

I walked over to examine those feathers as they lay

lifeless never to take take flight again.

Each little feather was covered with water droplets

from the moisture we had been getting. 

 They looked like the feathers of a dove, our first dove of the spring

had come without my notice and then vanished,
leaving behind the evidence that she (or he) had been there.

I looked around the property, hoping to see the feathered friend

 hovering somewhere in fear of needing help;

however, all I saw as I looked up the hill was another little pile

of bird feathers matching the ones I had just examined.

It was obvious that this feathered friend had lost it's life

and likely to a larger predator.

I wasn't there to witness what happened to this little bird,

knowing the course of nature,
it likely became food that was consumed.

The usual activity from the wildlife was silenced,
 I'm sure they were nestled quietly in hiding
until they knew it was safe to come out.
Living in the mountains we have all sorts of creatures
 that would have enjoyed this little guy for a meal.
What could it have been? The fox, the mountain lion, the hawk,
 or possibly some other big bird of prey?
Hmmm...what if it is the weasel 
who has taken up residence in our shed;
not because we have allowed him a comfortable place to lay his head
but because he is wise and sneaky.

On my walk, I thought about the incident and then began to think
of how quickly that bird was taken,
likely before it even knew it's predator was near by.
The Bible verse from 1 Peter 5:8 popped into my head.
"Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking 
whom he may devour."  
We are told to be sober-minded; spiritual sober-mindedness
includes the ideas of steadfastness, self control,
clarity of mind and moral decisiveness.
We are not to be caught up in the allurements of the world.
We are to be "vigilant", watchful, and alert.
Because the devil, our adversary and his forces
are always looking for opportunities to overwhelm
the believer with temptation, persecution, and discouragement.
We should never underestimate the devil; God is greater.


**********

I continued thinking on 1 Peter and thought of verse 9 in Chapter 5,
"Whom resist steadfast in their faith,
knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished 
in your brethren that are in the world." 
The way to resist the devil is by remaining firm in the Christian faith.
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
and watching thereunto with all perseverance,
and supplication for all saints." (Ephesians 6:17)
We are to live in accord with the truth of God's Word.

We are Sojourners and pilgrims here on this earth
and Peter encourages us through our journey.
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show
forth the praises of him who hath called you out
of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 1:9)
The whole brotherhood , the entire Christian community,
is always going through similar trials brought on by the 
roaring lion who never stops trying to devour believers.
But such a promise we have in (1 Corinthians 10:13)
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is
common to man: but God is faithful who will
not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear it."

**********

Let us grab hold of this wonderful promise,
 hide it in our hearts and make it our prayer.
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
because greater is he that is in you,
then he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4) 
Amen.

Be Glorious!
~ Debbie ~