“Life is a succession of lessons which must be live to be understood.” (Helen Keller)
Lessons! I learned a thing or two about the Canadian geese that are starting to show up, earlier than usual, in my neck of the woods. The female goose choses a male goose that she feels will protect her. Females in our species should do the same thing, choose a Christian man who will protect her and provide for her. Think about how marriages will have a greater success and survival rate if the female and male are equally yoked. After all, if it is good for the goose, it is good for you. Females in the world of geese, after matching up with the right male, lay four to nine eggs a year. As we apply the saying, “If it is good for the goose,” note that I am not talking about having that many babies unless you so desire, but look at the sequence: the right mate, and then the offspring. If it happens out of sequence, don’t think you have lost out on God’s grace and mercy. You are still the apple of His eye. H still loves you and so do your brother and sisters in the Lord, including me. But His exceptional love for us does not say that we should abandon the preferred sequence. Remember, “If it is good for the goose…”
I know from first-hand experience that the Canadian geese protect their young until they are ready to go out on their own. When I lived in Illinois, I decided to drive my wife’s shiny, red Saab one day. I did not travel to my job via the main streets and the highway that led to my place of employment. I decided to take the back roads. I’m driving along, getting closer to the small town I worked in, and out of nowhere a Canadian-geese aggressively attacks my wife’s car, leaving a big dent. What provoked this attack? The provocation came because the goose was protecting her eggs or his mates eggs, laid sometime in March. Do you know how things happen when you use your spouse’s car? You better be thankful you have a wife that’s saved! When you drive her car, hailstorms come out of nowhere, causing thousands of dollars of damage, a rocks hit the windshield and leave undetectable dents that turn into a cracked windshield that needs repaired. The car has unknowingly leaked oil and the engine locks up while you are driving her car! An unexpected snow storm comes and by the time you get home, the shiny car is now filled covered with ice, salt, and road dust. Let me be like Solomon to every husband and future husband that reads this meditation: “Remember these words my son!”
Back to the geese attack. The attack by the female goose resulted in a repair cost in the hundreds of dollars. Whether it was a male or female goose, the protection of their young was first and foremost on their mind. The attacking bird could care less about the shiny red Saab or my ego. Parents need to be like the Canadian geese! Whether female or male, protect the well-being of their offspring by bringing them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord and not being swayed by the often used expression, “Everybody else is doing it!’ Here’s the saying, “If it is good for the goose, its good for parents too!
The Canadian geese keep their children in line and interact with other families of Canadian geese. Christians, we need to do the same things in the training up of our children. And yes, I will say it, as long as you live at home, with the exception of being there as an adult caregiver, you are still in training, regardless of your age. Hmmm? If it is good for the goose, well it is good for us. Lessons…from the goose!
One more thing and then you can go enjoy your Saturday. The Canadian geese never lose their identity and the fact that they have been here or there, well let’s just say they “leave their signs.” If it is good for the goose, it is good for us. Let me clarify! Don’t lose your Christian identity! Leave some signs of your presence among others, because you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world! You are a new creature in Christ Jesus! Now, since it is Saturday and tomorrow is the Lord’s Day, remember your identity and show up in church and while you are there and after you leave, everywhere you go, leave some signs that you have been born again! Have good day! Be blessed!
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 English Standard Version)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King