A Story

 

I struggled into consciousness as the alarm interrupted my sleep. The darkness outside makes it considerable hard to leave the warm, cozy bed. I wander toward the kitchen, feeling more than seeing my way, to start the coffee that will hopefully bring my brain to functioning capacity. Somewhere in my hazy thoughts, I remember I have a plan for this day. Not big plans, mind you, just school, laundry, and a few odds and ends that need doing. The sun is doing its best to dispel the dark as I sip coffee in my comfy blue chair. The cat, as is part of her routine, beckons me to the back door, where I see that the fire pit that was full of water is now full of ice. I mentally move "morning walk" to "afternoon walk." It is not long before the children are awake and noticing that ice themselves. Unlike me, they brave the cold with nary a jacket to place a Lego minifigure, fitted with ice skates onto the surface of the ice. Their enthusiasm takes them to the edge of the lake, where they hoped to find more ice. Not yet, and hopefully never, my people. Then the rush of voices, all talking together, come rushing into the house. There is a goose that is injured by the edge of the lake. I pull on my hat, coat, and shoes and venture out to investigate. The poor creature is sitting by the lake. As I creep closer, I talk softly to it, and hold out my hand. A feeble hiss escapes its beak, and then it lowers its head and I gently pet the creature. The goose does not flinch or move, he just lets me caress his soft neck. A new plan for the day has come into being. We get the cat carrier from the attic and I carefully lifted the goose from its resting spot into the carrier. Jack, Therese, and I drove the goose to the wildlife rescue here in Columbia. And that is where the story must pause for now. I pray that they can heal and rehabilitate the goose. Meanwhile, little school was completed, laundry piles are lingering in the hallway, and those odds and ends must wait for another sunrise. I am reminded that often my plans are not what God has in mind for me. I must be open to His plans, and bend my neck, just like that goose.