He Provides

Traditionally, my wife and I chop up our Thanksgiving pumpkins and put them out in our backyard for the deer to eat. The deer really appreciated them this year as we had a foot of snow in late November.

At first we only had one spot for their Thanksgiving "leftovers" but then we noticed mama deer kicking at the two kids to keep them away while she ate. "That's not right," we thought.

So, the next day I shoveled two additional spots so that ALL could eat. That worked out great (see picture above).

It wasn't long before word got out in the deer community that there were pumpkins at the Hall house. At one point we had seven deer grazing in our yard. That has proven to be both a blessing and a curse as a few of our bushes have gotten "pruned" in the process. Oh well. We love our deer.

As I carried the last pieces of the last pumpkin out, I stopped and looked at the areas that I had shoveled off for the deer. It wasn't intentional, but the pathways I had shoveled formed a rather familiar shape. As a result a few verses came to mind. 

"The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep." - John 21:17

And then this one . . .

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them." - Matthew 6:26

The deer don't NEED our pumpkins to survive. God has provided for them, just like He has for us. Hasn't He also provided for each of us the ability to earn a living through some skill set He has also provided?

My wife and I LOVE watching the deer, and the deer love to eat. It's a double blessing!

In the weeks leading up to Christmas I did some research on YouTube. I am just about done building our deer friends a feeder. I also got them a bag of "minerals" to lick up and a 25-pound grain block which they are currently working on.

We feed the deer for the same reason we feed the birds - we love seeing them in our yard. God feeds US simply because He loves us. And even in the most difficult times, God provides. And we are grateful!

The cross on which Jesus died is also an example of God's provision. Through it, and our repenting and coming to faith in Jesus, God has provided a way for us to "be in His yard" forever. And for that we give Him thanks and praise!