A Thankful November: Ravens

Copyright © 2007, Andrew Stark.

All rights reserved.

(Click on photo for larger view.) 

 

I’m thankful for ravens because God feeds them, and that reminds me that he provides for me, too. 

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.  (Luke 12:22-28 ESV)

If you live around ravens, you know that not only do they not have storehouses and barns, they eat by scavenging for garbage and carrion and other yummy things. And they don’t spend all their time working just to survive, but are one of the few birds with the time and intelligence to do things for the fun of it. It’s an interesting bird to consider in light of what Jesus is teaching in this passage.

 

I’m thankful that I can rest in the knowledge that

[Tomorrow]can bring with it nothing
But He will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing
Will clothe His people, too;
Beneath the spreading heavens,
No creature but is fed;
And He Who feeds the ravens
Will give His children bread.¹ 

Other thankful folk:

• Connie is thankful for her husband and her two daughters.
• Elaine is thankful for where she lives.
• Carla is thankful for Kim
• Darlene thanks God for the encouragement she finds here on this blog. (I’m thankful someone finds this blog encouraging.) She adds, “since I have worn thick glasses (or contacts) since age 5 I am grateful for my glasses also.” I’ve had mine since I was eight, so mine would be very thick if I didn’t get the ultra-thin plastic lenses. Which reminds me: I’m thankful for ultra-thin plastic lenses, too.
• Candyinsierras is thankful for her

  fourth and fifth grade students. They told me today that I make History really fun because I act out the parts in the texts. Today it was the French convincing the Indians to side with them against the English before the French and Indian War.

  Yesterday I told them how special the Reformation was and we had an opportunity to discuss the Reformation a bit. My fellow teachers also didn’t know that it was Reformation Day, and they are excited about marking it as a special teaching day next year.

  She is also thankful for her glasses.

• Ontario Kim is thankful for an extra vehicle.
• Hiraeth Kim is thankful that her furnace works, and much more.

I’m inviting your participation, too. The instructions  are simple:

• Mention something you’re thankful for in the comments here, and I’ll included it in one of my thanksgiving posts, or
  
• Email me to tell me what you’re thankful for and I’ll include it in one of the thankful posts, or
• You may post your thankful thought(s) on your own blog and send me the link(s), and I’ll link to your post.

¹ William Cowper,  Sometimes A Light Surprises, Olney Hymns

Comments

[Ann B]

Would you mind if I joined in too, it's a good thing to remember and give thanks to God for His gifts to us .

[rebecca]

I'd love it if you joined in, Ann.