Having the Same Love

Spring is an amazingly wonderful time on the property. Yesterday we had several different kinds of birds join us, including geese, woodpeckers and a pair of cardinals.

But these wood ducks were my favorites. First of all, I had never seen any outside of a bird book before. We're just sure we didn't see them last year, so this was a wonderful discovery.

Wood ducks are also fascinating to watch. Wherever the male goes - he's the one with the red and white head - the female goes, too. They are never more than a few feet apart, even when they're swimming or feeding. I just had to smile, thinking about them gliding wing-in-wing across the water.

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Philippians 2:1-4

Imagine how much different - how much more joyful - our lives would be if we truly took these verses to heart. The same love, of one accord, of one mind. Esteem other better than self.

Is this the way we look at our marriage?
Our family relationships?
Those we work with?
Our brothers and sisters in the church?
The community around us?

The ducks seem to have this figured out better than I do. What a change we could make in the world if we thought the way she does - wherever you go, so do I. I am willing to follow. I will put your wants and wishes before my own, never straying off course and being separated.

I am humbled by this small creation God placed in the water for me yesterday. And now I want that same attitude, beginning with trusting and abiding in my Lord.

Where can we go from there?

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