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Eagles

The eagle, our American symbol, is the embodiment of strength, beauty, and freedom.
It is said the eagle was used as a national emblem because, at one of the first battles of the Revolution (which occurred early in the morning) the noise of the struggle awoke the sleeping eagles on the heights and they flew from their nests and circled about over the heads of the fighting men, all the while giving vent to their raucous cries. "They are shrieking for Freedom," said the patriots.
Thus the eagle, full of the boundless spirit of freedom, living above the valleys, strong and powerful in his might, has become the national emblem of a country that offers freedom in word and thought and an opportunity for a full and free expansion into the boundless space of the future.
--Maude M. Grant


Deuteronomy 32:11 compares God to a mother eagle, which "stirs up her nest, hovers over her young, that spreads its wings to catch them."

When God sees we are mature enough to fly, he pushes up out of the nest, out of the familiar, out of our comfort zone.

He shows us how big, how scary the world is.

We are terrified, snuggle back in the nest where its warm, but He pushes.

We flutter, tremble, fall.

He swoops below us and catches us in His arms; shelters us under His wings; lets us know we're safe.

Then He pushes us out again.

Again and again, until we find our way.
Until we find strength and peace in this foreign place.
Until we discover our wings and soar like eagles.

...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

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