Tuk Tuks and Birdies

This is a Tuk Tuk...they are used as taxis in Thailand. Having arrived on bus (we had travelled through the night) into a somewhat remote Northern town in Thailand we were greeted (as you always are) by a Tuk Tuk driver offering to drive us to our destination. It was 4am in the morning, we were tired and cold and eager to get to our guest house. A little apprehensive that we would all fit in a Tuk Tuk, we determined a price with him and we began loading the six backpacks and the six of us into the back. The children were loaded on first and then the bags and then Colin. At this point in the 'loading' process the Tuk Tuk began to tip!!!! I was yet to get on. The front wheel was literally off the ground. I was to even out the drivers weight...a little Thai man!!!!! Colin and I were not at all sure of this driving arrangment but were protesting through uncontrollable laughter. (We were tired remember). The man was confident and off we went....certain that at any moment we would tip....!

This morning at breakfast (at a little side stall) we were approached by a lady selling caged birds. These tiny little birds were trapped in little baskets and could be bought and let free for good luck. We bought some...not for good luck but for a quick family devotion. We happened to buy a basket with four birds and Colin and I talked about the birds being like our four children. We talked about why God had created the birds...and concluded that birds were made to fly and to have freedom. We talked about why God made us....to have life and freedom and that when we love God and keep his commandments ....we experience real freedom. We then talked about Jesus' words that he had come that we might have life and have it abundantly. The children went out to the street contemplating how they would follow God in their lives - aware of his love and reason for creating them and sure that they never wanted to be like the birds in the cage - and let the birds go. It was moving and will be remembered.