Trust 6 oz. of dynamite!?

Before I begin the topic of this entry, I'd like to wish each of you a Happy New Year.  I pray that your Christmas was full of blessings and that above any gift, that you were loved this season.  Mine was wonderful.

So while I'm preparing for 08' this weekend, just catching up on things I've neglected this month, I'm doing my boyfriend a favor.

Like me, he has never been married and has no children...well, "real people" children.  While my kids are limited to 2 dogs and a hermit crab, his daughter is a bird.  A Conure.

When we first met it was apparent that there only needed to be one woman in this man's life, and she was pretty content on it being her.  From that point on I was never to be in sock feet at his house because I was always greeted with toe nipping.  I wish I could say that was the worst of it.  Depending on her mood, I could always be lunged for at any given moment.  So needless to say, I always had my guard up.  Oddly enough, she liked eating with me.  Well, as long as she actually liked what we were having:)  She's a temperamental little snip.

This weekend he is skiing/snowboarding with some friends.  I opted out for lack of skill and the fact that the marathon is 2 weeks from today.  So who is bird-sitting???  You guessed it - me!

When he left her it was pretty apparent that she was ticked.  So I left her alone in her cage Friday night.  Saturday AM was not much better.  After my morning run, she wouldn't even come out of the cage.  Not normal for Chica.  She just absolutely didn't trust me, and this time I was the one holding the cards....on my turf.  Sounds a little ridiculous to be that competitive with a bird, doesn't it?  Well, let me just say that she is not just any bird.  She is both the smartest and the meanest bird I've ever met (I have wounds to prove the latter).  I knew our work was cut out for the both of us.

After the first hour or so out of the cage on Sat AM, I managed to get her on my shoulder without losing any digits.  From there we had breakfast, did dishes and started laundry...all things that she enjoys.  She even let me give her a little neck massage while we were on the couch.  After that, I can honestly say that we were cool with each other.  She trusted me.

I think that's just the way people are with God sometimes.  He is All-powerful, Protector, Provider, Nurturer, Care-taker, and so much bigger than we are.  And yet, some people just choose not to trust Him.  Not knowing what He can provide and how He can take care of us so much better than we think we can care for ourselves.  Some just choose to go it on their own completely.

But we as Christians do this many times as well.  We fall back into the "I got this" mindset and we blunder through our lives making one decision after the next, never consulting the ultimate Care-taker.  He wants to care for us so badly.  He wants to thrill us each and every day.  He wants to provide for us and nurture us.  He wants us to prosper and thrive.  And He will, if only we will trust Him.

“Because he Loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life will I satisfy him and show him my Salvation.”  Ps 91:14-16

As I write this my feathered friend is resting high on my right shoulder up against my neck.  She is cuddled up under my hair a bit and I just reached around and tickled her neck.  We have made so much progress this weekend.  She decided to trust me as her care-taker and I rewarded her with love and affection....and Cheerios:)  We'll be ok.

I pray that you have a wonderful New Year's.  And if you haven't decided to trust God as your ultimate Care-taker, I pray that this year you will.  Talk about a resolution!  Resolve to change your heart.  It's one resolution that you won't want to break!