Never an Empty Nest...

During our ENSA (empty-nest syndrome adjustment...wow-- that sounds important!) I had a non-unique but encouraging thought.

While viewing an informative video about Emperor penguins,  I learned that the fathers will stand over their chicks--on the ice--for up to 4 months while the moms nip out for a bite to eat (several bites, actually).  They will stand there, their only shelter in being surrounded by the other dads.  Amazingly, the chick is protected yet not suffocated as he nestles between dad's "feet" and is totally covered by his towering bulk.  And then dad stands there, and stands...and stands...until mom returns with food.  Now it's papa's turn to go for a meal...but wait-- not until he teaches chickie the family "call".  For when dad returns, the only way the family can reunite is by listening for that unique call.  Only then-- after the chick has been handed over to mom-- does dad take off. (It sounds terribly chaotic when thousand of penguins are all calling at once, but the chick will hear his father's voice, and he, his chick's). 

So, whether you have a nest of chicks...one chick...no chicks...no nest, His creation still reminds us of how we will be in our Heavenly Father's "nest".  He will never leave any of His children without His perfect protection.

"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me:  for my soul trusteth in Thee:  yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast."   Psalm 57:1