Odd Ducks

Within the past few weeks, an unusual video about a cat and some ducklings has gone viral. It tells the story of a young couple on a small farm in Ireland who wanted to add some ducks to their other animals. They purchased several fertilized duck eggs, but when they hatched, after searching extensively, they couldn't find the ducklings.

Finally after six hours, they saw a duckling in the mouth of their cat. Assuming the cat was going to eat the duckling, they tried to chase it down, but then they noticed that the cat was very carefully holding the duckling, not hurting it. As they watched, the cat took the duckling to its bed in the barn and deposited it with two other ducklings that were already there. Then the cat protectively surrounded the ducklings, covering them with her paws and nestled with them, purring contentedly.

The couple discovered that there were three tiny kittens sharing the cat bed with the ducklings. The mother cat had apparently just given birth to a small litter, when she discovered the ducklings. With the surge of mothering hormones following the birth of her own kittens, the mother cat’s instincts told her to nestle and protect any small, warm furry creatures. So she adopted the ducklings.

What was even more amazing, the couple discovered that the ducklings had latched on to the mother cat’s nipples and were actually nursing. Since ducklings are born ready to be independent and forage for food, and mother ducks do not nurse their young, this behavior was most unusual. It can only be assumed, that in nestling with the mother cat, the ducklings found a new food source and adapted to it.

The mother cat was not ready for the more independent behaviors of her precocious “yellow kittens.” She was constantly chasing after them, holding them in her mouth and bringing them back to her bed to take care of them. After several weeks, the ducklings were half-grown, but still following their adopted mother cat everywhere.

As I watched this beautiful story of an unusual love bonding between animals that normally have an antagonistic relationship, I realized that it is a powerful parable of how God calls us to love one another. At the Last Supper with His disciples, Jesus told them: “A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people are to know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34–35)

 Father God does not expect us to manufacture this type of love on our own. Scripture assures us that the love of Father God has been shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5), and we have a supernatural ability to love others, even the “odd ducks” we find in our midst. We are reminded that in loving one another, we are to bear each other's burdens. (Galatians 6:2) That is, we are to be patient with the faults we find in others, not judgmental.

They may differ from us in dress, hairstyle, the way they worship or the type of music they like. They may have doctrinal differences or hold political views we feel are wrong. They may be struggling with various forms of addiction, engaging in sexual immorality or struggling with broken relationships. Like the mother cat patiently loving her “odd yellow kittens,” we are to love these “odd ducks,” and allow the power of God's love to produce Christlike changes in their hearts and in ours as well.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM or 1:00 PM. We are beginning a new series entitled, “Father God Loves You!” My sermon this week is, “The Call to Love.”

Pastor Che