Like Water Off A Ducks Back

Proverbs 12:16 NLT A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person
stays calm when insulted.

There are times when things are said or misunderstandings happen that
I seem to have temporary amnesia...forgetting to let it roll, "like
water off a ducks back" and drop at the feet of Jesus. Yesterday was
"one of those days!" It happens when I have been too busy and my
connection to heaven has gotten fuzzy...
I had 2 of my grandchildren overnight, and was on my way to Omaha, an
hour and 15 minutes away, to take them home. It was just before 11:00
and I had a time crunch because one needed to be to pre-school by
12:15. As we were traveling down spur 66, My daughter, Jenae, said "
Oh, that didn't look right." She had seen a person seemingly stuck
under a tractor. Weighing out the possibility that it was nothing, I
decided to turn around and check it out. Wasn't this was a good enough
reason to be a little late...? Sure enough, it appeared the man was
not moving and was in the tines of the cultivator.
I pulled into their driveway, and to be able to see down into the
field where he was, I drove over a hose he had across the driveway.
When we got a closer look, we could see he was precariously working on
something under there. He didn't seem to notice us, so I proceeded to
turn around to leave. Apparently he heard the crunching of the gravel
under my tires and came out from under the tractor, heading up toward
my car..in a hurry!
We rolled down the window to save him the trip up and yelled, "We just
wanted to make sure you were ok." He seemed not to hear and kept
coming, so I got out to go talk to him, repeating our concern. He
said, as he passed me, "I am fine"! Huffing, he said "I wish you
hadn't run over the hose, you probably broke it! He detached the two
hoses, throwing the one out of the way. I told him I was sorry, I was
just concerned about him. Again he said, turning back to his tractor
in the field, "I am fine! "
This is where my connection went fuzzy...I was offended that he was so
concerned about his hose, that he didn't seem to care that we were
concerned for his life! My heart rate went up...my frustration
increased..I got back in the car (thinking about what I could have
said to him) and drove out fussing to Jenae my anger..gotta call it
what it was..anger!
I reasoned I had a right to my feelings..while I wrestled with the Holy Spirit.
Then, He won! PTL. The Holy Spirit reminded me to reconnect! I asked
God to change me, right away! Change my heart oh God, make it truly
thine.
I can't say I have been able to let it slide off completely yet, but I
am more willing to go back to the man and apologize again and offer to
replace his hose if I damaged it. And allow the sweet Spirt of Christ
to do His work in my heart!

The Lord brought to my attention several analogies with the
duck...like, what causes the water to run off his back?

Preening ( taken from www.call ducks.net )
"Ducks and geese need to keep their feathers in top condition to
protect themselves against water-logging whilst swimming, and in wet
weather. They normally do this by bathing to remove dirt from the
feathers, and by combing the feathers through the bill. This
maintenance of feathers is called ‘preening’. It includes the removal
of parasites, the removal of scales which cover newly sprouting
feathers, and also the spreading of oil over clean feathers. It also
includes the combing of the barbs on the feather so that the barbules
and even smaller hooks called barbicelli interlock and form a
protective layer to repel water..

"The oil is obtained from the preen gland on the rump. This is an oily
spot which can be found by searching near the drake’s curled feathers.
The bird uses this patch to roll and stroke its head over the oil. The
head is then rubbed over the body feathers to spread the oil evenly.
This keeps the feathers bright and supple, and allows water to run off
in droplets – as the proverbial 'water off a duck’s back'.

"Some people believe that the oil of the preen gland has little to do
with 'waterproofing' feathers, the main function of the oil being to
keep the feathers supple. Freethy, in his excellent book 'How Birds
Work', explains that preen gland oil is not the only defence against
water-logging; constant attention to zipping the barbicelli of the
feathers together is also important. However, one only has to look at
ducklings to see that preen gland oil does have some function in
repelling water. Ducklings reared under a mother duck have a certain
extent of natural water-proofing from contact with her feathers. The
contact maintains a good down structure as well as spreading
preen-gland oil on ducklings when they are only a few days old.
Ducklings reared without a mother are not nearly so waterproof."

Here are some lessons from the duck:
1. We need to wash ourselves in His word. Repent as soon as your
aware of sin in your life. (bathing to remove dirt)
2. Give to Jesus anything that hinders our Relationship with Him.
(parasite removal)
3. Ask for God to remove the scales from our eyes so we can understand truth.
(removal of scales from new feather growth)
4. We need to be anointed with the Oil of the Holy Spirit (spreading the oil)
5. We need to keep our "armor" on and in good shape. (combing the barbs)
6. We need to remain connected to Jesus (duckling get's protection from mother)

Remember that childhood saying "sticks and stones will break my bones
but words will never hurt me? I don't believe it is true. Unless by
God's grace, I allow Him to teach me... to be a duck. =)