Be a duck!

I know you’re having a hard time, but you’ve got to be a duck. Ducks are calm and cool as they float across the water, but underneath they are kicking like crazy!

My dad gives some great advice! I remember him telling me this when I was a teenager. Its meaning has changed over the years depending on what I was going through. It has reminded me to do things even if I was afraid, taught me that people would only have confidence in me if I had confidence in myself, and reminded me that I would never get where I wanted to go without making the effort. But most importantly, I learned that every duck functions the same way. People may look like they’ve got it all together, but deep down they’re kicking like crazy – just like me!

I’m not telling you to pretend everything’s great while you deal with your stuff in secret. I’m suggesting that God lavishes so much grace on us that we are able to function while we deal with our stuff. The ducks glide because their Creator designed them to, not because they’ve accomplished it on their own. God equips us to be a D.U.C.K.

Discern what to say
 Not everyone needs to know your business. This may seem to go against the idea of being transparent, but stay with me for a minute. God wants us to be genuine and show His love for others through the things we do and say. He doesn’t say we need to air our laundry out to everyone we talk to. I used to be terrible about this. I thought if I was transparent than I needed to be brutally honest about ALL my junk and, quite frankly, people didn’t know what to do with it. God refines us moment by moment. Some of His lessons are meant to share while others are meant just for you. He knows exactly what tool to use to create His masterpiece. 

Understand your purpose

 We would save ourselves so much grief and heartache if only we knew our purpose. Ducks are content to hang out in the pond with their duck friends, catch bread thrown by people on an afternoon outing to the park, and bask in the beauty of their surroundings. They are not focused on climbing the ladder of accomplishment or busying themselves with worldly things. While we may not have been created to hang out in the local pond, we have been created for one purpose – to glorify God. He uses each of us in a different way, but just like the ducks, we are all here for the same reason.

Choose not to be offended

 I’m going to be honest with you, I struggle with this concept. Like water rolls off a duck’s back, we can choose to let offenses roll off us. Just because someone intends to hurt our feelings or make us feel bad, it doesn’t mean we have to allow them to. I know full well that this can be easier said than done. I fail at this more than I care to admit. I’ll open myself up to someone only to feel foolish or rejected and it’s hard to not be hurt. We have the power to forgive them and let their offense roll off our back.  People can only steal your joy when you let them.

Keep kicking!

Life is in session and we need to be actively participating. Ducks get where they want to go by kicking their little legs until they get there. Sure, they can just sit back and let the current pull them along but then they don’t get to decide where to go. Are you still kicking? Or are you drifting along waiting to see what’s around the next bend? God intends for us to actively participate in our lives. We’re not here by chance; we’re here to glorify Him. That doesn’t happen by accident! God speaks to our hearts and directs us where to go, but we have to do some ‘leg work’.

Sometimes the simplest words of advice can be the most profound. Thanks to my dad, I grew up being a duck. Hopefully you’ll be one too. See you in the pond!

Be blessed,

Jennifer

“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:3