GOD'S BREATH PUBLICATONS

Three Little Ducks

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© 2000

Introduction

The following story came from a dream I had recently. I don’t usually dream about ducks, or any specific type of animal for that matter. I also don’t usually share dreams that I have with everyone, but something was different about this one. What was special about this dream was that as I dreamed it, I knew the spiritual meaning of it as it unfolded. I believe that God can speak to us through dreams either for our benefit or others. I share it with you, mystified by why I dreamed it, but completely understanding that both you and I should listen to its theme.

Once upon a time there were three baby ducks. They lived with their mother near a large pond on a beautiful country farm. Their mother was very proud of them and wanted to be sure that they grew up to be both healthy and wise. She knew that by growing strong they would be able to fly high in the sky, but they would need to be wise to survive the cruel world. To her, flying high in the sky was why God had made them ducks.

One day the mother duck asked her little ducks to follow her down to the pond. Her little ducklings got very excited and gathered around her. She told them to stay close by and to do everything she said. The mother headed down the small dirt trail that lead to the pond.

On the way down to the pond, they passed a garbage dump. The smell was horrible, but the ducks were very curious about what could smell so bad. They begged their mother to take them closer so they could see what was in the dump. Their mother warned them to never go near the horrible place. She told them that there were dead things there. There were things that were dirty and smelly and could hurt them. She warned them that any food there might make them sick or possibly even kill them. The ducks reluctantly agreed to continue on their journey.

Further along the trail to the pond they passed by a huge red barn. The mother duck told her little baby ducks to follow her into the barn. As they entered the barn they noticed it smelled of musty hay. Their mother waddled over to a corner of the barn. “Come here my hungry little ones,” their mother whispered.  As they quickly ran to where their mother was, they noticed the floor of the barn was moist. They looked down near their mother’s webbed feet and noticed the ground was full of juicy white grubs. Before they could partake of this delicacy, their mother said, “Now only one apiece.” The little ducks complained, “Only ONE!” Their mother shared with them that while these grubs were very good, they were also very fattening. She told them that a fat duck would never be able to fly like they were supposed to. The little ducks devoured one grub apiece but wished they could have had many more.

The mother duck left the barn with her precious ducklings and continued onto the pond. The family of ducks arrived at the pond and jumped into the water. They played and played and played. They were very tired when their mother told them that she was going to search for a place to spend the night. The little ducks were afraid for their mother to leave, but she said that it would be safer if they stayed by the bank under the shade of the old willow tree. The mother duck swam off as the little ducks contemplated their adventures of the day.

Only a few minutes had gone by when they heard a loud explosion and what sounded like a muffled duck warning‑cry. There was silence... deadly silence. Their mother had told them stories in the past of evil hunters that lived near the pond. She had told them that there could come a day when she might not return from one of her trips looking for food. They remembered that she had told them that if this ever happened; that they must use all that she had taught them to survive. She had told them that they must make sure they learn how to fly so that they could fulfill their calling as ducks. They must learn how to fly high in the sky amongst the clouds.

The three little ducks waited and waited. They waited the rest of the day and into the night. The next morning they decided that their mother was not going to return and they must seek a safer place. The hunters might be near and come for them as well. The little ducks began to discuss where they should go. One little duck suggested they use the opportunity to visit the garbage dump and see all the things they had missed. Another little duck suggested they visit the barn and chow down on grubs. After all, they were beginning to get hungry. The last little duck suggested that they move to a safer part of the pond and find food, a place to live and learn how to fly. Their discussion turned into a heated argument. Each one wanted to choose the path they preferred. They soon grew tired of their arguments and decided to part ways and pursue each of their plans separately.

The first little duck retraced his steps back to the barn and then followed the smells that guided him back to the garbage dump. He was the most curious of the little ducks and wanted to find out all he could about this world. He was very anxious to find out what could cause such horrible smells at the dump. He finally found the dump and began climbing up the huge mountain of paper, rotten food and broken bottles. He was very impressed with how his webbed feet allowed him to keep his balance. As he thought about this he said to himself, “My mother was wrong, this must be what God has made me for.” He began climbing faster and faster as his webbed feet provided stability on the loose pieces of filthy refuse. When he reached the top of the mound of rotting matter, he looked around. He could see very far in all directions. As far as he could see there was all sorts of discarded items, cans, boxes, food, newspapers and broken bottles. There was so much to explore. He became a little hungry and decided to try some of the rotten food lying before him. He gagged on the first few bites, but as he ate more and more, he lost his distaste for the decaying matter. He decided he would call this home.

The second little duck had decided that he would return to the big red barn. Those delicious grubs had not left his memory since he had seen and tasted one. He couldn’t think of a better place to be where there was plenty of food and a roof over his head. He found the red barn and entered. He carefully searched the barn and finally found the place where the grubs were most abundant. He picked one up in his mouth and ate it whole. It was absolutely delicious. He picked up another and another until he could eat no more. He remembered what his mother had said about eating in moderation, but she must have been wrong. “This,” he said, “Must be what God had made him for.” He decided to call this his home.

The third little duck knew that in order to grow up to be strong and able to fly, he must take care of himself. He must eat the right things, get plenty of sleep and continually exercise his wings. He knew that without discipline he would fail to gain those things that were best for him. He was tempted to visit the garbage dump to see what was there, but remembered and honored his mother’s instructions to avoid the evil place. He was also tempted to go to the red barn to eat the large juicy grubs. He felt that just one wouldn’t hurt, but he also knew that he might not be able to stop without the presence of his mother. He decided he had better not put himself in that place of temptation if he could not trust himself. Besides, there was plenty of food that was much better for him here at the pond. He would just have to work a little harder for it. He knew that in order to achieve what his mother wished for him and what God had made him for, he would need to keep his eyes on the good and right things of the world and be wise in his decisions.

A few weeks went by and the little duck who lived at the dump seemed to be doing very well for himself. He had found many shiny objects to add to his collection of discarded items. He always had a full stomach, as there was never a lack of food, rotten though it was. One day as he was munching on some mushy, brown and orange carrots, he looked down and saw that his beautiful orange webbed feet had grown cracked and were oozing a sort of liquid. He also noticed that they felt sore and hurt some. He wasn’t sure if he felt well either. He didn’t notice the small trickle of blood that dripped off his bill from his nostril. As the little duck lost consciousness and fell against a large rubber tire, he now knew that this was not what God had made him for. As his last breath left his tiny lungs he wished he had stayed at the pond with his brothers.

The little duck that had chosen to live in the red barn was now no longer little. While only a few weeks had gone by, he had tripled in weight. As a matter of fact, he had eaten so many of the luscious grubs that he was not able to walk and flying was totally out of the picture. Of course he really didn’t have to be able to walk or fly, since all he had to do was lean over and grab a grub whenever he was hungry. He could have left the barn at any time, but he was afraid another duck or animal would find his treasure. He wanted the grubs all to himself. As he continued to munch on grub after grub, he did not notice the furry figure lurking in the shadows of the barn. The little duck did not have a clue the wolf was there until it had already grasped him in its mouth and broke his neck. As the feeling left his body and he became very cold, he realized this was not what God had made him for.