Earlier this year, I wrote about the great blue heron in my Lenten devotion. I talked about my dreams of a great blue heron flying down and spreading his wings around my nephew, Ryan, who was so sick from leukemia.
The heron’s wings in my mind were like Jesus’s arm, wrapping Ryan in love and comfort. The heron has special meaning to our family and, for many years, has symbolized God’s presence in our lives.
You’re probably tired of me writing about herons by now, but I want to share a story about how the heron continues to bring light and hope into our lives, even now after Ryan’s death.
After a long, intense battle with cancer, our relentless Ryan entered the house of the Lord in March. Our family has been shaken with grief that we think will never fade. I worry so much about Ryan’s parents, my sister Kim and her husband Craig, but they are staying true to their faith and taking care of one another as they patiently wait for each day to pass, hoping that a little bit of their sadness will fade with each passing day.
Kim finds a sign almost every day that Ryan is with her —- hummingbirds, butterflies, cloud images, sunsets, rainbows, giraffes, zebras, and of course, herons. About a month ago, she and Craig were taking a walk as the sun was starting to set. It was the day before we turned the clocks back an hour, so darkness appeared sooner and sooner each evening. The sky was gorgeous as night slowly arrived. Kim and Craig were talking about Ryan’s friends and how they were each trying to bring peace to their lives as they grieved the loss of their dear friend.
Suddenly, Kim heard loud rustling in a tree next to the road as they were headed up a hill toward their home. As soon as they looked over to the tree, a great blue heron flew out of its nest high up in the branches, its wings spanned at least six feet wide as the graceful bird soared towards the setting sun. The sounds of its wings created an amazing “whoosh, whoosh…” sound as they pushed air down to move the bird up in the sky.
Kim and Craig were taken back by the beauty and presence of this beautiful creature. They knew, at that moment, that Ryan was sending a message to them that he was in the arms of the Lord. The great blue heron never fails to bring light and hope to our lives, and we thank God for using this special creature as a symbol of His grace, love, peace, and safety.
The heron is a patient bird. I hope that my family can learn to be more like this bird because patience and a sense of calm can bring us close to Jesus. Let me “…wait patiently for the Lord; then He will incline to me and hear my cry” (Psalms 40:1).
This Advent season, as we anticipate the arrival of Christmas day, I pray that we can be like the great blue heron and wait patiently and calmly. But, let’s not forget to respond in action and do the work of the Jesus here on earth. What can we do to help others feel like the Lord is wrapping His arms around them? How can we be like a heron? Do we need to swoop in and make a loud entry, or can we do little things that make a big difference? Can my simple presence in someone’s life bring light to them in some way?
Prayer: May Jesus Christ provide light for you in all your days. May He wrap you up in love and grace and help you live your life in service to Him. Amen.
-Kristen Straub
Sudbury UMC Lenten Devotions 