Grandma Needs That!
Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Matthew 6:8 (NIV)
Owls are magnificent; however, I don’t need them. But to hear one in the middle of the night is a peaceful sound to me. It’s so easy to get our wants and needs all mixed up during this season. This Bible verse says it all; He knows our needs. Cathy Mayfield (All God’s Creatures) shares a heart-warming message about our greatest need.
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GRANDMA NEEDS THAT!” Our then two-year-old grandson made a beeline through the store to show his mama what he knew I would need for my Christmas tree—a fifteen-inch-tall, feathery owl Christmas tree topper. He insisted they buy it. When they presented this gift to me, the story of how our grandson claimed I needed it thrilled me. It sat on that year’s Christmas tree, presiding over the smaller owls and other animals filling the branches.
The relationship between owls, our grandchildren, and me has a long history. I enjoy owls, and I love hearing their calls in our backyard and sharing stories and information about them with our grandkids. But owls didn’t become a thing I “needed” until the youngest grands came along. Their excitement in relating anything with owls to me when I visited delighted me. I especially love reading books such as Owl Moon to them over and over.
My whole family has a love of animals, and when our daughter’s family moved near a zoo, we purchased a yearly membership for them to enjoy the animals whenever they wanted. On their first trip, their then three-year-old daughter chose the one-eyed barred owl as her favorite. Every time we visited and went to the zoo, she needed to make sure we spent some time with that owl.
A few days before writing this, I heard they again visited the zoo. Upon seeing the snowy owl, our grandson exclaimed, “Grandma needs to see that!” And I shall next time I visit my grands who know exactly what “Grandma needs”!
Each time I look at the owls that inhabit our house-tree ornaments, books, and handmade pictures—or hear the great horned or barred owls outside, I thank God for knowing just what this child needs—whether owls, grandchildren, or the gift of His Son.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)
Gracious and loving Lord, thank You for meeting our needs and ignoring our wants. Teach us to be grateful for what we have which was/is Your greatest gift to all mankind. AMEN.