 Years ago, back before every song played in my car was from an album called "Toddler Tunes" on a playlist labeled "Hensley", I used to listen to the radio. No iphone, no XM, just the regular ole local channels. Back where we used to live, we only had about 2 stations that came through (and that was on a good day).
Everything in that small town was relatively close together, so there wasn't much time to actually listen to the radio. I usually was never fully focused on what was on. This was true this particular day, but something quickly caught my attention, and here's what I heard: "The giraffe gives birth standing up. So the first thing that happens to a new-born giraffe is a fall of about 10 feet. Still dazed, the baby tries to stand up on its four legs, but it's mother behaves very strangely: she gives the baby giraffe a gentle kick which sends it sprawling. It tries to get up, stands, and is again knocked down to remind the baby how it got up the first time. This process is repeated several times, until the new-born giraffe is too exhausted to stand. At that point, the mother kicks it again, forcing it to get to it's feet. After that, she does not push the baby giraffe over again. The explanation is simple: in order to survive predators, the first lesson a giraffe must learn is to get to its feet quickly." This really got me thinking. 'The explanation is simple.' Sounds insane, but it actually makes sense. To survive the predators, the ones that lurk, prowl, and would love to devour anything weak within its path, it must get to its feet quickly. Have you ever felt like that baby giraffe? Each and every time you try to stand feet and you feel like you're finally okay, you're quickly knocked back down? Bad news. Rough seasons. Heartbreak. Loss. Feeling frustrated, strained, and confused, you gather the strength to stand back to your feet and not sit defeated. Even though we would would be lying if we didn't admit, in the quietness of our hearts, that we think about quitting and just staying down this time. Thinking how hard it is to pick ourselves up, and get back on our feet. All the while wondering why this keeps happening. Can I encourage you to keep at it? 1 Peter 5:8 (the Amplified version) says this : Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. The Lord wants us to be able to get back to our feet quick, and He is conditioning us to do so. Continually. In every situation and season. Because if we don't get to our feet quickly (just like the baby giraffe that has to keep up with the pack) the ever present predator in our life would love to devour; to steal, to kill, and to destroy us (John 10:10). If you feel knocked down, don't stay down. God wants more for you than that. Be the baby giraffe. Get up quickly, and keep moving. “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33 HCSB
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