Daily Focus - Mr. Stop

It was just a little thing, really. I mean, who would have ever thought a little bird could make such a difference in all our lives? But he did.

He was a red-winged blackbird that always greeted us sitting on the same stop sign whenever we drove to town. Because of the brilliant, red plumage on his wings and the location of his unusual home, we began to refer to this new friend as Mr. Stop. The joyful song he sang encouraged our family each time we passed his home, but it was the simple faithfulness of his presence that left a profound impression on the minds of my young children. Mr. Stop was always there protecting his nest and gathering food for his wife and family.

Every year in the spring, the pattern would repeat itself, and again Mr. Stop would return and come into our lives for the summer months. An unforgettable lesson of faithfulness was being forged into our family's life. We didn't realize how much the consistency of this little bird's presence meant to all of us until we moved away to homeschool in another state.

Do you know the faithfulness of God's presence is surrounding you today in a far greater way than you may think? Psalm 139:7-10 says, "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." The God of the universe securely watches over you no matter where you are and faithfully protects and provides all you need to homeschool your children. Take a moment now to stop and enjoy the sweetness of His presence.

Heavenly Father, thank You for always being with me and guiding our family as we homeschool today. I trust Your Word and know I am not alone. In Jesus' name, Amen.