Of Penguins and People

Maia was excited! She and her dad were going on an all-day excursion to the city zoo. "I love watching all the animals, but the penguins are my favorites," she said. "They look so funny strutting around on land, and it's even more fun to watch them swim. They look like they're flying underwater!" Whenever she went swimming herself, Maia would try to imitate the smooth, flowing motions of the birds. At the zoo, a guide explained how the penguin room was kept cold so the birds would be comfortable. "Otherwise," he said, "the birds would get sick and possibly even die from the change of climate." Maia listened eagerly as he described a number of other special things that were done to keep the penguins comfortable and healthy.That evening for devotions, Dad read Psalm 121. "How do these verses remind you of those penguins?" he asked after reading the psalm. "Remember how careful the zookeepers are in taking care of them?"Maia nodded. "They make sure they get the foods they need, and they keep the room at the right temperature and even have special lights for them! The zookeepers know how to keep the conditions just right so the penguins won't get sick.""Yes, and this psalm reminds me that God does the same thing for us," said Dad. "The Bible explains how God not only created our world with the conditions perfect for life but sustains it, meaning He controls everything and watches over us. The zookeepers don't just put the penguins in a tank and leave them be--they monitor them with care and loving attention." "So God takes care of us, just like the zookeepers take care of the penguins," said Maia. "I think one of the verses in that psalm says God is our keeper, doesn't it?"Dad nodded. "God is in control of both our physical environment and all the situations that affect our lives. He is a good and loving keeper who gives us all we need--including forgiveness, peace, and eternal life--through His Son, Jesus. Even when hard things happen, we can trust that God will work everything out for our good.""Yeah," said Maia thoughtfully. Then a smile spread across her face. "I think we should go to the zoo more often to remind ourselves of that!" –Deborah S. Marett