The animal friend we will think about today is a long-legged baby. You’ve seen pictures of it, with big ears, wide eyes, and a black nose. Just maybe you’ve had a chance to see the spotted little creature in the woods with its mother. But you probably won’t ever see it curled up in its forest bed. It lies so still you would never see it. For our favorite friend is

The Hidden Fawn: Meekness

The fawn is a very obedient baby animal. If you could watch it all day long, you might be surprised. For long hours it must lie quietly while mother deer goes off to eat. That is just one reason we call it “Meekness.” If ever it is frightened or in trouble, it just falls into a spotted heap and doesn’t move. The dull brown and white fur is God’s way of hiding it. Besides blending right into the leaves and grass, it has another special secret. A fawn has no scent! When a hungry wolf or mountain lion goes sniffing for supper, it will pass right by the fawn without even knowing it.

How can we be like the lovely gentle fawn? We can learn to listen and obey, without asking “why?” If the fawn asked “why?” instead of lying down quietly, what might happen? God has given us parents to take care of us. Learning to obey quickly is meekness. Jesus was like that, too. He obeyed when He was a small boy, and He obeyed when He was grown up. He listened to God, His Father, and did His will, even when He had to die.

Another thing to remember is how the fawn lies down so still and small when there is trouble. When there is trouble you may want to blame others or defend yourself. God wants us to be humble, and not think we are always right. Would it help if the fawn stood up tall and stomped its feet? Of course not! A wolf could kill it easily with one chomp. It is only by staying low down that it is safe. God will protect us and help us if we stay low down. He says that His strength works best in our weakness and smallness. We are just little, but God is big enough for every problem.

The hidden fawn is beautiful. The Bible says for us to have our lives hidden away in God. Let us remember the lesson. How much better if we are not seen or heard at all!