Thoughts on Canadian Geese

As I have continued thinking and reflecting on my relationships especially in the season I am in, after my recent trip to Canada, I have thought about the honking that goes on while geese are flying and there is no mistaking their sound they call to one another in flight. Their calls help them maintain contact and coordinate their movements.

Their honking makes me think about the words we use with one another.

Our words have a way of staying with people long after a conversation has ended. A few thoughtful words can bring comfort to a weary heart. A harsh comment can linger for years. Proverbs 16:24 describes gracious words as sweet and healing.

I know how meaningful it can be when someone speaks encouragement at just the right moment. A reminder that God is faithful. A kind word when we feel discouraged. A Scripture shared with genuine care rather than judgment. And I am reminded that I need to be just as mindful of the words that come from my own mouth. Am I speaking in a way that builds others up? Am I listening to understand, or am I simply waiting for my turn to speak? When I disagree with someone, can I respond with both honesty and grace? Following Jesus does not mean avoiding every difficult conversation. Sometimes love requires us to speak truth. But it does mean asking the Lord to shape our hearts so that our words reflect His character. Ephesians 4:29 encourages us to speak what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.

I can think of many times this year especially when I have received a text or call or an email from a friend telling me they are praying for me. I have had to have very hard and difficult conversations with our women at Creative Hands this year and many times I have left those wondering if I had said things in the right spirit and the right heart or maybe had said hurtful things without even meaning to. Learning to use my words redemptively with the goal of restoration and growing together.

We Can Travel Together Without Being Exactly Alike

One thing I appreciate about relationships is that God brings people into our lives who see the world differently than we do.We have different personalities, different gifts, different experiences, and different ways of responding to life’s challenges.Sometimes those differences enrich our relationships. At other times, they can test our patience.It is tempting to want people to think as we think, respond as we respond, or see a situation from precisely our perspective. Yet Christian love asks something deeper of us.

Romans 12:4–5 describes the many members of one body, each with a different function, belonging to one another in Christ.

We do not have to be identical to belong to the same body.

We can learn from someone whose strengths differ from our own. We can make room for different perspectives without abandoning our convictions. We can love someone even when we do not see every matter in the same way.But where there is room for mutual respect, humility, and grace, our differences can become opportunities to grow.Perhaps God sometimes uses the people who are different from us to reveal the places in our own hearts where we still need His patience and transforming work.

The Greatest Lesson Is Love

As much as Canadian geese can prompt me to think about relationships, I know that the greatest example of love is not found in nature. It is found in Jesus.He showed us what love looks like through His life, His compassion, His willingness to serve, and ultimately His sacrifice for us.In John 13:34–35, Jesus commands His disciples to love one another as He has loved them. He tells them that their love for one another will identify them as His disciples.

A Final Thought

The next time I see Canadian geese flying overhead, I hope I will remember to pause for a moment.I hope I will remember that relationships are gifts to be cherished and responsibilities to be nurtured. That people need encouragement. That strength can look like asking for help. That our words matter. And that sometimes the simplest act of love is choosing to walk beside someone through a difficult season.Most of all, I hope I will remember to look to Jesus, because He is the One who teaches me how to love.I may not always be able to change the headwinds another person is facing. I may not have the right words or the perfect solution. But with God’s help, I can choose to be present, to pray, to offer kindness, and to remind someone that they do not have to face every difficulty alone.And perhaps that is one small way we can reflect the heart of Christ in this world.We may not be able to lighten every burden, but we can choose to help one another carry them. And as we do, may the love of Jesus be seen in the way we walk together.