It’s only in cities that missing out on the seasons is easy. Out in the bush you can’t miss it. Obviously spring comes with overwhelming numbers of new-born chicks, lambs and other small ones, but you’ll find calves, pups, nestlings and other hatchlings later too like our autumn visit shows. Here are some pictures showing mothers going about the difficult work of raising their offspring – and don’t let those pictures fool you. These little ones are in peril every day and it’s a joy to see them growing up so carelessly. Reminds me of our Lord’s saying: “If you don’t become like these little children…” In the wild it’s the caring mothers, who watch over their kiddies – sometimes failing. It happens. That’s true – and it’s really sad, like when I saw the pack of baboons tear apart a little duiker fawn although the desperate doe tried everything imaginable in the book of “Bush-wise-survival” to distract and put off the marauding omnivores. In the end they found the little thing in its secret hideaway and despite the desperate pleading of the mother they went about their grizzly meal – out there in open daylight and the heavens did not cave in. Oh, the creation sure moans and groans with us – and seeks salvation too. It’s how things go in the bush and in fallen creation. But – and it’s true too – for us its our good and caring Father in heaven, who never rests and slumbers and never ever fails in his gracious parenthood, who watches over us most kindly and lets only the very best and most profitable occur – for us and our ultimate salvation. Nobody and nothing can snatch us from his gracious and almighty hands, which lead us sure and safe to our final consummation and glorious fulfillment + Therefore thanks and praise be to him in tune with tomorrows 3rd Sunday after Easter: Jubilate + It is he our good God and Father, who “… has made me and all creatures …”  and it is he that “has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my limbs, my reason, and all my senses, and still preserves them; in addition thereto, clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and homestead, wife and children, fields, cattle, and all my goods; that He provides me richly and daily with all that I need to support this body and life, protects me from all danger, and guards me and preserves me from all evil; and all this out of pure, fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I owe it to Him to thank, praise, serve, and obey Him. This is most certainly true.” (Luther’s explanation of the 1st Article of the Apostolic Creed: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.”