ASTONISHED!

ASTONISHED!

You may have to be a certain age to remember one of my favorite "love" songs. Back in the 1980's Bette Midler came out with a song that has always touched my heart. The song's title is 'You are the wind beneath my wings". After hearing the song on the radio I bought it as a gift for my wife Melody. The words of the chorus are especially meaningful. Notice them, "Did you ever know that you're my hero, and everything I would like to be? I can fly higher than an eagle, 'cause you are the wind beneath my wings. It might have appeared to go unnoticed, but I've got it all here in my heart. I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it; I would be nothing without you."

Actually I hadn't heard or thought about that song for a long time then I ran across an amazing story; actually I've had it in a stack of things I have saved on my desk for about a year. Anyway I reread it and things just clicked. Notice this wonderful testimony to a caring heart.

"Astonished, I watched the man roller-skating toward me on the bicycle path. An owl, wings outstretched, clung to a leather patch on his shoulder. As they got closer, I could tell that the giant bird had lost part of one wing. The skater stopped for a breather. "Twice a day we go out so he can pretend he's flying," the man told me.

"I'm sure he would repay you if he could," I replied. "He already has," the skater said. "I used to weigh 25 pounds more and I smoked." With that, man and bird took off again". ("Life In These United States", Readers Digest Magazine).

As I contemplated this story I wondered how many of us have a person who is or has helped us to fly, perhaps to soar when the world has tried to push you down. And I also wondered when might be the last time we thanked them?

I am continually astonished! I have many wonderful people in my life that are a constant encouragement to me and I hope I in some small way return the favor. There are times that my wing is broken and I am flapping around in circles on the ground then someone comes along and maybe unknown to you, you help me to fly again and I am astonished at you. Astonished that you care, astonished at God's love seen through you!

I am astonished when I think of what Christ has done for me! Go back and watch the movie, 'the passion of Christ' once again if you dare, remember what he did for you and be astonished!

Each dayI try to make it a practice to say thank you to ourGod! Thank you for my life, for our world, for all that he has done and is doing for me! What I want you to understand is this: to someone else you may be the hand of God, reaching out and lifting them up and helping them to fly when they can no longer fly themselves.

The writer of the book of Hebrews encourages us regarding our relationships with these words in Hebrews 12:12-15: "So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong. Try to live in peace with everyone, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you will miss out on the special favor of God."

Perhaps you can mark the path, lift up someone, look out after someone or at least let someone know how much you appreciate them being in your life. Just perhaps you can for someone, be "the wind beneath their wings' and they will be astonished that you care, and more importantly they will see Jesus through and in you!

I am astonished by God's plan and the ability to make it work in my life! ("But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles." Isaiah 40:31

Russ Lawson – “Messages >From The Heart” (http://mfth.net)