Whose pelicans are they anyway?

Precious Prodigal's Post for 01/26/2015 is at = http://bit.ly/1BglwA4 Title: Whose pelicans are they anyway? Please "Like" us and "Share" this post with your Facebook friends.

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Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”

Those white pelicans with black wing tips may be some of the most beautiful birds ever. Although clumsy on land, they are elegant in flight and seeing large numbers, sometimes more than 100, of them flying in formation is breathtaking. As migrating birds, they winter on Southern lagoons, estuaries, and lakes. Lake Logan Martin is one of those lakes, and we’re lucky enough to live there.

When Logan Martin is lowered to its winter levels, the sand bar directly out from our house becomes visible, and the pelicans tend to gather there. At least they did until this year. Alabama Power changed the schedule of lowering the lake this year, and the pelicans had already established their “temporary home” by the time that sandbar was uncovered. And that “temporary home” wasn’t our sandbar.

I was totally indignant that Alabama Power had interfered with the return of “my” pelicans. The problem, of course, is that they weren’t “my” pelicans to begin with. Their coming to that sandbar was a gift, a temporary loan rather than something I was entitled to claim as my right.

All of us tend to use the word “my” when we’re referring to parents, kids, spouses and loved ones as well as material things. However, the truth is that none of those things belong to us. The world and everything and everyone in it belong to God. And if they all belong to God, He can and will do what He chooses in regard to them.

When we look honestly at the times we’re discontent or unhappy, doesn’t it almost always begin with our having a sense of entitlement? My kids shouldn’t have acted out or my spouse walk away. Why did my parents not love and take care of me the way they should have? Why did I get cancer? Why did my loved one die too soon? Why did these bad things happen to me?

I don’t mean to minimize the pain those things cause. I’ve experienced many of them just like you have. But I have to ask, why not you? Why not me? The Bible says it best in 1 Peter 4:12: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.”

None of us is exempt from suffering. And, regardless of how “good” we are or how hard we try, life is going to show up at our door…and sometimes with a battering ram. God never promised us our road would be easy. He only promised He would never leave us or forsake us, so we wouldn’t have to walk it alone. (Deut 31:6)

There are good days as well as bad days on this journey I’m walking. And I’m thankful for every moment with loved ones, for good health, for returning prodigals, and for black wing-tip pelicans. But the key to accepting the bad days may just be found in enjoying those gifts but remembering they were temporary and not something I’m entitled to.

Challenge for Today: What might happen if we, just for today, reminded ourselves that we are not immune to heartache and chose see and enjoy God’s gifts without holding them too tightly?