Not every Family Zoo story has the same kind of ending and this one is one that has a different ending.
Down through the years the kids had many different kinds of animals. Our daughter had a parakeet that she kept in her room. One day we had a storm and our house was struck by lightning. It was so strange to actually see it! We had two metal lamps that hung on the wall in the living room. We saw the lightening dance between the two lamps on the wall and then it headed through our son's room and into our daughter's room Where her pet parakeet was sitting on a metal bird swing in his metal bird cage. You may have already guessed what happened next, the lightening went right for the poor bird's cage and then his swing and he did not have a happy ending.
When I think about this story, I think about the fact that the bird did not have any warning. Sometimes we have things happen in our lives that we have no warning about. Whether it be a car accident, a death in the family or something else that happens suddenly. These things are all things that were never meant to happen. God never planned it that way, but when sin entered into this world everything changed. In God's plan we were only meant to know love, security, and happiness with Him our creator and Lord. God's heart hurts for us when things happen, He feels our pain. One day things will be just like they should be - no more crying, no more pain, no more death, nothing bad will ever happen again and we will live happily with Him. "And, God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:4 The parakeet did not have a decision in what happened to him.
Sometime things that happen to us are consequences from decisions we make. And, even with those God can help us. We may not always have a decision in things that happen in our lives, but we can make the decision in what happens later. I choose Jesus and the life He has planned for me now and the life to come. What about you? He is hoping you will choose Him, too and the life He has planned for you. He is waiting and reaching out to you. We have some warning, we can choose before it is too late. From day to day we aren't sure what will happen, but we have now, we have this moment. God can make this life we have here so much better "and "we have the promise of the life to come.
In the Bible Jesus is often referred to as the Shepherd and the people (us) as sheep. If you study into this relationship ( the shepherd and the sheep) you will soon discover that the shepherd does everything for those sheep. He takes care of them in every way. He protects them. He would give his life for them- they mean everything to them. If just one is lost, he will leave and go looking for it. This is how Jesus is with us. (John 10:7-16 , Matthew 18:12-14)
When I look at his picture, I know that lost sheep is me and Jesus loves me, as He does you, and He is reaching out to save me and protect me.
May we always remember how strong His love is for us and how much He wants to protect us and keep us safe. May we also remember what he has planned for us- a place where there will be no more crying, no more death, no more pain, a place where nothing bad will ever happen again. Jesus said "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1-3