“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10
With the current spring-like weather that we’ve been enjoying this week, what activities are you and/or your family enjoying as these events have the opportunity to resume? Surveying our students at lunch, I hear of adventures such as bike riding, baseball, going to the park, or just playing outside. The adults that I consulted provided suggestions such as the ability to work in the yard, golf, going for walks, or various outdoor home improvement projects. The warmer weather also provides additional opportunities for meals to be prepared on the grill; last Sunday offered a beautiful day for our family to enjoy a barbeque. However, later that night, we realized that we were not alone as an additional unexpected guest had crashed our party!
“Oh my gosh, look at the opossum!” my son announced as he pointed out the window at the large visitor inhibiting our deck. Lured by the aroma of our dinner, there he was sniffing the grill’s grease pan, unaware of the crowd staring at him through the glass.
“Did I ever tell you about the time I found an opossum that was truly playing opossum?” my husband asked the group. Intrigued by the statement, the crowd encouraged him to continue with his story. He explained that he was an older teenager riding his motorcycle at his family’s cabin in northern Michigan when he came across an opossum lying in the road. Thinking it was dead, he picked it up (that statement alone made all of girls start to gag), put it over the gas tank of his motorcycle, and drove it back to the cabin. When he arrived, he placed it in a hole and went to find his sibling to show off his “prey”. However, when the entire family returned to view his remarkable treasure, it was gone! That entire journey on the motorcycle’s gas tank to the cabin, the opossum was stiff and still but actually alive! When he knew that the coast was clear, he got up and ran like the wind, never to be seen again by the Palkas for fear of another motorcycle ride!
Opossums have an amazing ability to stay still and wait! The Bible tells us in Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God!” I don’t know about you, but at times, I find that a very difficult order to fill! There are times that the thoughts, worries, and noise inside my head can swirl so quickly that it feels like my head can actually spin around in circles. This week, as we have been studying “The Story”, we have been learning about Elijah and how he heard God through a quiet whisper. However, to do so, Elijah had to learn how to “be still”. In addition, our students have also had the privilege this week of experiencing music classes with Mr. Guy Louis. During these residency classes, Mr. Guy also has been encouraging our students to take time to “be still” and focus on God with a heart of gratitude.
This Lenten season, may God bless you with abundant opportunities to read His word and “be still” as you reflect upon the message. In those moments, strive to focus on how much God loves you, knowing that He sent His Son to die for your sins so that you can live with Him forever!
In His Amazing Love,
Mrs. Palka