Chapter 31 – Dodging Ducks

God’s Stewards

Genesis 1:28

“And God Blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

Genesis 2:15

“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”

Colossians 1:13-20

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son (Jesus Christ): In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

When we first moved to the area there were so many open spaces for migrating water fowl and that absolutely included geese and ducks. We had so much joy spotting them by local bodies of water, flying over head or waddling around little flats of land they found in some of the most unusual places. By our local post office there’s a meandering little creek that the ducks love. It was common to see them out taking little strolls in the residential areas that sit creek side. On rare occasion you might even find a mother duck carefully guiding her little ones across the road. Thankfully the folks in that spot were mindful of the local wildlife and these migrating Mallard duck neighbors were on top of the list. If only that was the case everywhere.

It wasn’t hard to see that the fast and furious growth in the area was taking its toll on the local wildlife and on those migratory ones. We prayed for them and tried our best to be careful of them on the roads, and still do. If we saw one hurt or needing help we did what we could to help them. At one point in time I had asked the Lord, if it was His Will, to send them to our little property. It was my heart’s desire to put out a bit of extra special seed to help them through winter and breeding season. And if we saw any lone ducks land; to make sure they had fresh water and a bit of food to help them on their way. We were already doing that for squirrels in our area being that they are non-natives. And folks were removing nut and seed trees everywhere mostly for development.

I didn’t know if the Lord would entrust us with additional incomings. From the time I was a little girl I was taught and learned the importance of taking God’s charge serious in Genesis chapters one and two to care for and tend to His precious Creation. My parents did their best in communicating that, and showing us in their own way. It should be easy for those of us with Jesus, The Creator, in our hearts who has reconciled all things unto Himself! As I grew older, I wanted to know the meaning of many of the words in Scripture including “dominion,” used particularly in Chapter one. I discovered it was the Hebrew word, radah, literally meaning to rule by going down and walking amongst subjects as an equal. It implies a special responsibility to govern Creation with humility and stewardship rather than exploitation. To have a benevolent relationship so that they can provide for us and we can learn from them. What a mission statement the Lord has given!

Peter and I already had multiple feeders chock full of seeds especially the all-time favorite black sunflower seeds, suet cages, a nyger/thistle feeder, and critter watering stations. We put a heater in the bird bath during the frozen months, bringing ever increasing traffic to our yard. We had also decided to add a sprinkle of dried mealworms to the mix for those who enjoy an extra protein crunch. We had our first hummingbirds visit our little sanctuary doing courtship dances around our snowball and butterfly bushes and around the apple trees. Their tiny nest and babies would eventually find home in the larger snowball bush and pay multiple visits to our fly-in nectar station.

Raptors such as Sharp-Shinned, Cooper and Red-tailed hawks along with the Northern Saw Whet, Boreal, Great Horned, and Western Screech owls had already become welcome migrating visitors. Each one an incredible surprise and joy, along with unbelievable visits from an eagle or two from time to time, enjoying our little sanctuary too. With the growth all around, it was no wonder they were looking for a peaceful place to hunt, eat and rest as well.

As the seasons changed that late summer into the cooling crispness of autumn Kaiyah and I would stop by the little creek nearby and watch as the numbers of ducks dwindled to but a small handful and then to none. Each time I see or hear them (or any creature for that matter), wherever I am, it is customary for me to immediately thank the Lord for them and pray for His Safe Guiding Hand to Lead them to where He Knows is best for them. Things were developing so rapidly that from one season to another the winged sojourners would have to reroute, but thank God they are His and He Knows how to Direct them; and we were as ready as we could be for them should they come our way.

It was a glorious spring that following year with everything surging with new life and budding. Surprisingly one afternoon a few mallards, male and female, had decided to land in our back yard. I couldn’t believe it! Gideon and Pumpkin couldn’t believe it either, and Kaiyah was overwhelmed looking out the sliding door seeing ducks wandering around her back yard... She stood there watching, then sat and watched but she didn’t once ask to go out. I praised the Lord out loud and petted my furbabies as we sat together in front of the sliding glass doors observing our new friends waddling to and fro quacking and toddling. I was delighted and honored to have them come and come they did.

The first few days it was a few then it increased to over thirty at one time. Peter and I had quite a fun conversation about it and we both were thrilled. We had purchased some special grain scratch at a great local garden center that had assured us it was the “bees knees” of food for chickens and ducks. Although we didn’t have chickens yet, one day Lord Willing, Peter’s special dream of tending chickens may come true. The food came with perks as it was great for squirrels, doves and other birds as well.

Over time the large numbers dwindled and a few pairs remained. Often when Kaiyah had her yard breaks they would land for a little rest and to eat, doing what ducks enjoy doing. It was cute that the ducks would politely dodge her and she would dodge them. Although there were a few rare times when she would do an upward bounce with the front of her body in the direction of the mallards with ears straight up and forward and then watch what they would do. They in turn would pop-up into the air flying off, land on the top of the wood fence, land in one of our neighbor’s yards or quickly waddle further away from her. She seemed rather interested in seeing what they were up to by tilting her little head back and forth with curiosity. I never saw her chase or go after them. In the years following those first visits they would respectfully dodge one another and in due course, with trust built, lay down to rest a spell a comfortable distance apart.

Gideon and Pumpkin seemed to have a good time watching the ducks too, from inside the house. If the ducks did arrive while they were out enjoying the day the two kitties would politely watch them until they wanted back in, or if they were being duck dodged or when the ducks got just a little too close for comfort, and the cats dodged the ducks; that would have them racing to the door lickity split. As an attentive furmommy I kept an eye on all the antics and investigating going on outside. Consequently, I would often have the door already open before they rushed back in, sliding on the tile.

Peter and I continue to strive to be good stewards of what the Lord has entrusted to us. We are humbled by God’s Trust in us, and pray to be filled with His Spirit: faithful, loving and obedient to our Lord God with everything. And because of what He has done for us all, and for all that He has Made, we know in Jesus that we can, hallelujah!

His Kaiyah continued to amaze us with her playful yet careful way interacting with other creatures including those precious ducks visiting her own yard. I believe her furdaddy would say that was unlike typical dog-like behavior…. but it was our Kaiyah’s way.

…Until we meet again…