LIFELINE
By Christy Lowman
Burke County
“As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.” Psalm 42:1 NLT
In my opinion, the deer is one of the most beautiful, delicate-looking creatures God has made. I so want to seek after God as much as the deer goes looking for water. How about you? Are you like a deer searching for something to drink? Are you thirsty for God? If not how can you become that way?
Deer can be found almost everywhere, from the mountains to the rainforests and on all continents except for Antarctica. There are 60 different species, the largest (now extinct) was the Irish Giant Deer, measuring 7 feet at the shoulder with antlers 12 ft wide. The smallest would be the Pudus, which can be as short as 13 inches high at the shoulder and 33 inches in length. Some deer species are endangered while others are heavily populated. They can live up 20 years depending on the type and their location.
Does, can give birth to twins or triplets called fawns. Fawns are born with white spots that help hide them in their surroundings. These spots fade away after the baby turns a year old. Fawns also do not give off an odor, which protects them from predators. They will live with their moms for up to 2 years. The mother will continue to feed them, 6 times a day, while they are kept out of sight. Fawns can stand on their own in as little as 10 min. and can walk within 7 hours of being born.
Deer herds can consist of up to 100,000 members. Their stomping grounds can be as large as 30 miles. Deer are herbivores that eat plants, leaves, fruit, different types of grass, acorns, and other nuts.
By licking their noses frequently, it increases the deer’s already keen sense of smell. They can smell predators from very far away. Deer can also see up to 310 degrees while humans can only see 180 degrees. Their good night vision is essential to their survival because that is when they are on the move searching for food.
Deer also have optimal hearing. They have a special muscle that allows them to move their ears all different directions to improve their hearing while never having to move their heads.
Male deer, called bucks or stags grow antlers every year (except for the Chinese water deer) that fall off. The new yearly antlers are covered in velvet, a furry coating that is rich in blood vessels and nerves. This allows the antlers to grow at incredible speeds. This antler tissue is the fastest growing tissue known to mankind!
Occasionally you can find a white stag. This happens when the deer develops a condition called leucism. This condition causes the deer to lose the natural color of its skin and hair.
Aren’t these animals incredible that God has made? The simple fact that God made all these fascinating animals while caring enough to give them traits to protect themselves to survive makes me want to seek after God and learn more about Him. If He cares so much for animals then He must care even more people. If He didn’t He wouldn’t have sacrificed His one and only Son so we could have everlasting life. The only way I can make it through the problems in my daily life is to rely on God. I can’t do this life without Him present, leading, and guiding the way. I can’t survive without Him, just like the deer can’t survive without water. He is my lifeline. Is He yours?
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:19 NIV
Dear Lord, I pray that each one of us, will go to new heights to find ways to seek and learn more about you. I pray that we mimic the deer and gather our strength and base our survival solely on You. In Jesus’s name, I pray, Amen.
Bibliography
https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/deer.html
https://onekindplanet.org/animal/deer/
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/facts-about-deer.php
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Christy Lowman is a Christian author and illustrator that lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband and two children. She enjoys writing and illustrating books for all ages. Some of her short stories are published with Guideposts and HCI. Christy gives all the glory to God in everything she does. A portion of every book sold from the Small Bible Character Series will be donated to battle human trafficking. If you enjoy her books, “like’ her author page on Faceook and let her know! You can buy her books at //www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AChristy+Lowman&s=relevancerank&text=Christy+Lowman&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1. You can reach her at //www.facebook.com/authorChristyLowman/
or christyssoaps@yahoo.com
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