Only in Texas (or maybe a few other places) would I have had a recent conversation with Lindsey that went something like this:
Lindsey (running in from playing outside): “Mom! There’s an armadillo in the neighbors’ backyard!”
Me: “Um…okay.”
Lindsey: “It’s scared, and it can’t get out!”
Me (wondering how one can tell if an armadillo is scared): “It’ll probably get out the same way it came in.”
Lindsey: “But what if it can’t find the way out? It might be terrified!”
I told Lindsey that if she wanted to, she could keep watching it through the fence, and she’d probably see it find its way out soon enough. Lindsey went back outside.
A few minutes later, both Lindsey and Jessica came inside. Lindsey told me that she had dug a hole under our fence so that the armadillo could find its way into our backyard. I wasn’t all too sure I wanted an armadillo roaming my backyard, but I was touched by Lindsey’s obvious concern for the armadillo and her kindness toward one of God’s creatures.
Me: “That was very kind of you to dig a hole and show the armadillo the way out.”
Jessica: “And while Lindsey was digging the hole, the armadillo came up and sniffed me. And then he realized, ‘Hey! You’re not an armadillo!’” (Lindsey later explained that the armadillo had gotten confused and thought maybe Jessica was an armadillo because she was down on all fours.)
The girls said that after Lindsey dug the hole, they backed away and went out of the yard, leaving the gate open so the armadillo could see a clear way out. The rest of the evening, Lindsey kept her distance from the armadillo so it wouldn’t get spooked, but she kept watch over the backyard. At one point, she saw the armadillo in our yard, and she was excited that it had made it out of the neighbors’ yard. The next time she looked, the armadillo was gone, and she was satisfied. She had rescued it and helped it make it to safety.
You know, armadillos aren’t very pretty. Actually, they’re ugly. And they don’t really perform any useful function. So there was no real reason for Lindsey to care like she did except that she saw a creature in distress, and her heart was moved to help it.
Which reminds me of a beautiful Bible passage. It’s found in the 10th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus is sending His disciples out to preach the good news. Before they go, He gives them instructions. “Don’t be afraid,” He says. And then He comes to the beautiful part: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
In other words, He’s telling them, “God will take care of you. After all, He takes care of the sparrows, and you’re much more valuable.”
You’re more valuable than armadillos, too. And if God takes care of armadillos—which, in this case, He did through moving kind-hearted Lindsey to help one escape—then He will certainly take care of you.
In this case, the armadillo’s need was for a way out. That might be your need, too—a way out of temptation or a difficult situation. Or maybe your need is for something else—financial relief, wisdom, or even a friend. Whatever your need, God knows what it is, and He has plans to meet your need. It would be an insult to God’s character to suggest that Lindsey had more compassion on that armadillo than God has on you.
Your need may not have been met yet. But just as Lindsey made escape possible before the armadillo actually walked through the fence and then the gate, so God is arranging to meet your need even before you can see or make use of His provision.
One day, you will walk through the gate into His provision. Until then, remember that He is at work, orchestrating all things to come together at their proper time for you.
So keep checking the fence, and when you find a way under, look for the gate.
Then walk through it.
Matthew 10:29-31—Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.