God Favored Me: Failure Isn’t God’s Rejection but God’s Redirection - Part 1

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Failure Isn’t God’s Rejection but God’s Redirection - Part 1

My good friend, Jane, shared the following piece with me when I most needed it. In turn, I’m sharing it with you here, so that you may partake of its uplifting message as well.


Eagles are amazing parents.
I didn't know how special their nest was for their babies.  To make it, Daddy Eagle picks up sturdy twigs and sharp thorns to build this special home. But to make the nest comfortable, he'll cover the twigs and thorns with soft grass.  And here's the amazing part: Mommy Eagle will pluck her own feathers from her breast! She'll place them on the nest for added warmth and softness.

Many times a day, Mommy Eagle will fly out to look for food. She'll fly back to put fish and other food into the open mouths of her hungry kids. Because the nests are built on high rocky cliffs, winds are very strong. Whenever there's a storm, Mommy Eagle covers them with her large wings. The tiny eaglets live a pampered life.  Because every need is met by their loving parents. But one day, it's time to teach them how to fly. And in an instant, their entire world changes.


Flight Training Is Always Cruel
To teach their young to fly, Eagles follow four stages-all painful. First, Mommy stops bringing food. The tiny ones are crying out in hunger but she doesn't seem to hear them. The kids are in shock. They ask, "Why is Mommy not listening to our cries?"

Second, she flaps her wings to sweep away the grass and feathers in the nest. The sharp thorns are now exposed, pricking the delicate skin of the Eaglets.

Third, she does the unthinkable: She throws them out of the nest. The little Eaglets jump back in, only to be pricked by the thorns. They're now bleeding. They're shrieking in pain. And they're wondering, "Why is Mommy torturing us? Why is she cruel?"

Fourth, Mommy pushes the Eaglets off the nest again. But not just off the nest, but all the way off the cliff! The little Eaglets hurtle down to the ground-one thousand feet below--towards sure death. But before they hit the ground, Daddy Eagle swoops down and catches them on his wings. He drops them back into the nest.

They cry out, "Mommy, why are you killing us? What have we done?" But they barely are able to catch their breath, when Mommy pushes them out again.

This death-defying, terrifying ordeal is repeated seven to eight times until the Eaglets get the message-and start flapping their wings. Soon, they're soaring on top of the clouds with their proud parents beside them.

Friend, this is exactly what happens to you when God teaches you how to fly.


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