The Duck Quacks

About a month ago I walked through the offices here at our Church District headquarters, and Cynthia Williams, our youth director’s secretary, was going through some things that had come in for “Kids Camp”.   Immediately  I spy several bags of little ducks. 

One duck in particular stands out…she has a purple crown and purple star scepter.  I want it.  Right then…

I beg (sort of). 

“No can do”.  We have a limited number of ducks and the group these are for lose things frequently—we must keep every single one we ordered.  Of course all the pleading and saying—“but you don’t understand…this duck is meant to be mine”…didn’t faze this young woman.  So I left heavy hearted (sort of) that I couldn’t have one of these ducks. 

The purple crowned little duck spoke to me.  She just did….but Cynthia didn’t understand.

A few weeks ago we were called to come to the board room for a meeting with the presbytery board regarding a step we were in the middle of with our ministerial certification.    On my way to the meeting, I stopped by  Cynthia’s office….I mean, even though she didn’t give me the duck, she’s still a very cool person to chat with.

I walked in and —you guessed it.  She handed a purple crowned duck across the desk.

When I saw the duck—my prayer from that morning came instantly back to me.  I had told the LORD, while I was ironing— “this is exactly the kind of day and situation that I would have called Wanda about this morning.  I would have shared my heart—she would have listened and then immediately prayed –Lord, will YOU please tell her about today?”.  I knew that about her—she was a prayer warrior—and I felt in need of my prayer warrior sister.   This particular duck message was like God was sending me a pond full of peace—and that little duck was leading the way swimming across.

My heart leapt in my throat.  This duck was talking to me—it was like a message straight from heaven.  He said, “I told her.  She knows.  She’s here–with her very own crown”.

After I got back home, I took the little duck, placed her in my left hand to snap a picture with my phone to share the duck with my baby sister, Aimee—and this is what I heard in my spirit:  “I didn’t call you to be a swan….  I know you look different, talk different and act different than the others I have made.  Be happy being a duck.  A quacking—waddling duck.  I created you to be a princess—and you have a job to do.  The way you talk, walk and act is just right for the job I have for you.  Now is the time to get busy…..You are the duck.  Now wear the crown.”

I don’t know if you are like me–but I have struggled with many areas in my life.  As a teenager, a boyfriend once made fun of the way I walked.  It sort of stuck.  

In that same struggling span of teen years, an adult made a comment with an implication about the way I looked (braces on my teeth–over permed hair–all the normal stuff of the early 70’s)…again, the comment stuck.  

For years I have carried around this feeling of inadequacey.  “I’m not enough.  I’m not able to be all that HE wants me to be because of all the flaws I have“.  Guess what I discovered?  

I am who I am.  Maybe I’m a duck—with a purple crown…who thought perhaps because I wasn’t very “swan like”– I couldn’t be the servant God wanted me  to be….but now knows different

Guess what else?  It’s okay to be a little “quacky”….. (grinning)

I told Cynthia just before she clocked out that day that she was God’s tool today.  The one HE chose to share a secret with me.  While I didn’t share everything with her, I did tell her that “I KNEW” that God heard my conversation with HIM that morning—when Iprayed to Him while I was ironing.  Even though I ended the prayer at the ironing board, I didn’t end the conversational thought with God.  So when I told her that I knew that God must have surely told her, “She needs the duck today.  Give her the duck today”.  She got bug eyed (as only Cynthia knows how to to), and said—“YES!  That is exactly what happened.”  She said that that morning, she was prompted to “count the ducks in the bags” and all the bags had the same—correct amount—but one.  One bag had an extra.

Isn’t that like God?  He knew the day I’d need the duck.  The day I’d need a secret whispered into my ear.

Do you talk to God?  Like He’s WAY UP THERE…or right beside you?  Which do you believe is true?

Yahweh Shammah.  The LORD is there.  Everywhere.  Right beside you–and high on His throne in the heavenlies. 

Scripture reading:  Ezekiel 37:21-28; Ezekiel 48:35

© The Knightly News—Giving Him All.  All rights reserved.  Used by permission.

6 thoughts on “The Duck Quacks

  1. LindaLinda

    I love this Angie. This message has been reenforced for me over and over again recently. It is such joy to know that we are exactly who He created us to be. We don’t have to be like anyone else or have the approval of everyone else. We just need to be His.
    Thank you for this.

  2. Iris

    Super-cool duck 🙂 – When I pray, I know that God is near, not just ‘up-there’…
    I am so glad that Cynthia gave you the extra duck.

  3. Gloria PowellMamma Doodle

    My precious Angie Gril,
    When ducks are swimming they are as graceful as even the most beautiful swan. You my special child of my heart have always been a beautiful swan. God has run you down and overtaken you with so many talents and blessings. (there is a scripture about that, my concordance is not handy) You are God’s special God Daughter with a Purpose. I am so thankful that I can share just a part of your blessings with you, Love Mamma Doodle