No Reservations Needed

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

 

by Kathy O’Neill

Whether splashing in ocean waves or hiking in tall mountains, everyone loves vacations. But you usually need reservations for your stay.

One spring, hundreds of visitors arrived at a Texas hotel. They didn’t have reservations or suitcases, even though they had traveled a long way.

Would the hotel have enough rooms? Would the waffle machine quit?

No, the visitors were cliff swallows. In the spring swallows migrate from South America to raise families on the prairie. They build their own rooms and prefer insects to waffles. But they weren’t welcome.

All day the birds swooped by windows and doors. They twittered and squeaked. They hopped around puddles, gathering tiny mud pies. They built their mud nests in a honey-comb pattern across the hotel’s walls. It looked like giant bees had been at work. Mud, feathers, and droppings mounded up under the nests. Nothing the hotel did discouraged the swallows.

Soon downy heads poked out of nests. All day birds skimmed over the fields, scooping insects out of the blue sky to stuff in baby beaks. Dive-bombing swallows discouraged human guests. The swallows’ activity created a noisy mess for the hotel staff. Everyone welcomed fall when the swallows left.

We never need reservations to visit God. He welcomes us and loves hearing our chatter and songs. He doesn’t mind messes and will never discourage us from staying as long as we like. Even if we’re worried and arrive in the middle of the night, God will listen and comfort us.

 

Bio

Kathy O’Neill grew up in Maine and loves family time, horses, dogs, and walks on stormy beaches. In her teaching, writing, and speaking, Kathy engages children’s and adult’s hearts and hands to discover God and their own creativity through art, history, and nature. Visit Kathy at http://www.kathy-oneill.com/ to see fun family activities.