Duck Tragedy

On my way to youth group to pick up my nephew (he's visiting us and decided to check out the youth group while here), I saw a mama duck with her sweet little ducklings huddled in the road. I swerved and missed them, then I had a flash-thought, "I should stop and herd them, so I can keep her from getting hit." But I was running a little late and didn't want to leave my guest waiting, so I drove on. I noted a truck coming in the opposite direction, and glancing in my rear-view mirror, I didn't think he swerved to miss her.

On the way home, I didn't want to see it, but it was unavoidable. She and her babies were mangled in the road. I pulled over and asked my nephew if he wanted to stay in the car or get out with me. He decided to get out. I wanted to see if any ducklings were alive and needing help. We poked our heads in the bushes, but couldn't find any babies alive. I took a stick and gently scooted those that were hit off the road so they wouldn't be run over any more.

I felt responsible. My nephew said, "I see a lot of dead animals along the road. On the freeway, I saw a dead raccoon." I said we have a lot of wildlife and therefore a lot get hit often, especially at night. I wanted to cry, but I didn't want to cry in front of my nephew. As he pointed out, there are hundreds of dead animals along the road--why cry for these and not all?

I came home and told my husband about it. I was folding laundry. I couldn't even look at him while I told him the whole story, and I started crying and couldn't stop. In my head I can see her when I passed by the first time and honked once as a warning. The ducklings scurried near her; she may have even extended her wings a little as they huddled close to her. They came when she called, even though they were by the roadside, safer than where she was in the oncoming lane. They came to her because they believed she was safe, and I assume she believed she could keep them safe. And for that instant I had thought, "I should keep them safe," but I didn't. I could have served as protection, but I didn't.

So many helpless creatures. Sometimes I can do a small thing to help just one or two, and then I don't. I must remember that sweet mother and her ducklings, and wonder what else I'm driving past, thinking I'm in too big of a hurry to help.