“Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spake, and it was done.”
Psalm 33:89
We are continuing with descriptions of some of the world’s storks:
THE PAINTED STORK OF INDIA: This one is different in appearance from any of the others. Its feathers are a combination of beautiful silky black with pink and white over its neck and throat. The back of its head looks like a white skullcap, and the top is brownish-red down to a long yellow beak. Its legs are usually pink.
THE AUSTRALIAN BLACK-NECKED: This one is unique. Seen from the side, the most impressive thing is its all-black neck and long beak with the black continuing over its head. Most of its body is white except for black wings and tail feathers. Its legs are a crimson color and its eyes are bright yellow.
THE WHITE STORK: This one is actually black and white. Its back feathers are mainly black, compared with the rest of its body, including neck and head, which are pure white. It has a deep, salmon-red bill and legs. These storks are among the ones mentioned last week that migrate between Africa and Europe.
THE SADDLEBILL OF KENYA, AFRICA: This one displays another combination of black and white with pink knees and feet, separated by spindly, grayish legs. Its name comes from an unusual beak which is entirely red except for a broad black “saddle” around the middle, as well as a bright yellow patch from its forehead down to the saddle.
YELLOW-BILLED STORK OF AFRICA: This one is among the prettiest of all. It is almost entirely snow white except for underlying back feathers, velvety red head, pink legs and the bright yellow beak that gives it its name.
As we explained last week, some of these marvelous birds are becoming fewer in number because well-meaning people feed them. This interferes with their migrating when the weather turns cold. This is not the case with all of them, and, as part of the display of the Creator’s wonderful works, storks will probably be around as long as this world lasts.
It is sad to think of those storks that are dying and unable to do anything about it. This leads us to do some serious thinking about people who go carelessly along through life, closing their eyes to the fact that life on earth will not last forever. Many ignore God’s warning in the Bible which tells us to “prepare to meet thy God” (Amos 4:12). How do we prepare to meet God? John 3:16 tells us: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Have you prepared to meet Him?
ML-07/23/2006