As The Deer

Mornings are so refreshing working in the garden. One morning 2 weeks ago it was a cool and foggy. The fog was so thick you could see it fall from the sky like a misty rain. As we talked and weeded the garden we looked up and at the far end of the field we saw a mother deer and her twins. We were surprised because we were not quiet as we were talking and it did not seem to scare her away.

It looked like a post card with the fog so heavy and the deer so calm. We decided to talk quietly so not to frighten her. It would be soon time for her to go up the mountain behind our house to the rocky mass on the very top, where most of the deer hideout during the day. They feel safe there.

As the fog was lifting, the mother deer looked up and around to see if there was any danger at all. Just one little move or loud sound would send her running up the mountain. She let her little ones continue eating and then with out a warning she nudged her babies and up the mountain they went.

Whenever I see deer I always think of that song we loved singing as kids.

“As the deer panteth for the water

So my soul longeth after Thee

You alone are my heart’s desire

And I long to worship Thee

You alone are my strength, my shield

To You alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart’s desire

And I long to worship Thee”

Which was inspired by a Psalm of the Sons of Korah, Psalm 42:1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God (NLT). We’ve been teaching the kids a passage from The Desire of Ages in the chapter “At Jacob’s Well” that goes along with this verse “He who tastes of the love of Christ will continually long for more; but he seeks for nothing else.” 187.3

I’ve learned so much in watching the wildlife on this mountain. The courage, the will power, and strength that comes through in each of them. The deer take risks every morning just to feed themselves and their young. Some never make it back to the safety of their dens, but the ones that do live another day to pant for the water again.