Don’t Be an Ostrich, Be a Stork


You have heard the old retort to when a kid asks his parents how he came into the world: “The stork brought you.” I’ve decided that is actually a pretty good response to my nine-year-old daughter and eleven-year-old son. Yes, we have already had the “s” talk, but more than anything I need them to know something even more important… Someone who loves you and will protect you to the death brought you into this world.

I have been stumbling through the book of Job lately. Job has really been difficult for me to glean much from because I just keep going back to the fact that Job’s friends are just jerks dishing out a bunch of twisted truth. But this morning, as I was anxious to wrap up my time with Job and his little warped friends, I fell upon a set of verses that wrenched my heart.

13 β€œThe wings of the ostrich flap joyfully,
though they cannot compare
with the wings and feathers of the stork.
14 She lays her eggs on the ground
and lets them warm in the sand,
15 unmindful that a foot may crush them,
that some wild animal may trample them.
16 She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers;
she cares not that her labor was in vain,
17 for God did not endow her with wisdom
or give her a share of good sense.

It took me awhile to catch on to what God was saying and why He brought these two animals to the conversation. God had been telling Job that he had no business telling the one who was not around to help Him measure how large He wanted the earth. Also, Job has not been in the storehouse where God keeps the snow. Job had no understanding of what was really going on in God’s world.

Now, I don’t want you to sink down into a Beth Moore “pit” when I offer up this advice, and I hope that I am not being one of Job’s misguided friends. I get really sad and I am sure you do too when you hear of any kind of child abuse. In recent years, it seems that I hear of some of the worst cases of children being abused by their moms. I will not give any examples because I don’t even want to think about it, but I am sure you can think of a recent example. What convicted me is where it said the ostrich lays her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand, unmindful that a foot may crush them, that some wild animal may trample them.

How many times have I been unmindful of my children? My precious kids are out in the world everyday and the enemy (aka a wild animal) is looking to trample them. What kind of mom have I been to them? I am not saying that to myself in an accusing, self-deprecating way. I am saying, “Wake-up Desiree, your kids could get thrown into a pit before your very eyes.”

Obviously, I cannot control what happens with my kids when they are out from under my hopefully stork-like wings and feathers. But when they are right here under my wings and feathers, I need to be a mom who is careful and every moment of the day yielded to my God’s wisdom and guided by the Holy Spirit who He has so generously lavished on us. I don’t want to be an ostrich who flaps her wings joyously but is totally oblivious to what is going on around me. I don’t want to “have my head stuck in the sand” while my kids are hurting with something that is going on in their lives.

Do what Job did just four chapters after the story of the stork and ostrich. See God, don’t just hear of the great things that He does. Repent if you have had your head stuck in the sand. Ask God for wisdom and that you will be a mom who has good sense. Spread your wings and allow your children to hide under your loving feathers. Then ask God, your Father, to spread His wings and hide you under His amazingly soft, beautiful and loving feathers. Many blessings to you!

5 Responses to Don’t Be an Ostrich, Be a Stork
  1. deb
    February 2, 2011 | 11:31 am

    I can appreciate this post so much…I am a mom of a 20 year old daughter and 17 year old son. My world was so different at their age, they are challenged by society and all the technology that surround them. I pray each day I can protect them from this world and with God’s help I know that is possible.

    • Desiree Rutter
      February 4, 2011 | 10:03 am

      Thank you all to your kind comments. I am so thankful that the Lord was able to use my devo for His glory and to encourage your hearts. Have an awesome day. Remember to keep your wings up and your heads out of the sand! πŸ™‚

  2. amy
    February 2, 2011 | 10:11 pm

    what a beautiful and relevant concept! There are so many ways that I can think to apply this and be a better mom. Thanks!

  3. Kimberly
    February 2, 2011 | 10:35 pm

    First of all, I love it when God shows me gems tucked into portions of His Word that I may be struggling with. πŸ™‚

    And this is so good. Reading about how the ostrich flaps her wings joyously, totally oblivious to her babies…oh how that causes me to pause. I don’t want to get so caught up in my own thing that I get unmindful of my girls. I don’t want to be so busy pursuing what makes me happy, just thinkin’ about me, me, me and totally forget these precious ones He has placed in my care.

    I had never paused before to ponder whether I am an ostrich or a stork. But I am so glad you had me do so today.

    Blessings,
    K

  4. SuzyO
    February 3, 2011 | 7:58 pm

    I don’t know how a mama could send her babies out into the world each day without the God of the universe protecting and providing for them. I am so thankful we have Him looking out for us.