Sea turtles

By Wayne Doolin

First Baptist Church

My family recently vacationed in Gulf Shores, Ala. I stood on the beach, observing the sand dunes that are in place serving as a barrier to protect the beachfront houses. Though I did not see any, I was reminded of the sea turtle. I have heard and read about “protecting the nesting of the sea turtles, how vulnerable they are to predators (and man), and how important they are to our ocean environ.

The purpose of the sea turtle is to produce more sea turtles. The function of the sea turtle is to help keep our oceans clean. God created the sea turtle with a very specific and important role in his creation; man must be careful not to impede or destroy its function.

You are no sea turtle. You are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139: 13-14). Each child from the moment of conception in the womb has a very clear and specific purpose. You were created for a relationship. That bonding begins almost immediately. The mother senses the changes and movements, the development. The child recognizes the mother’s voice and is one with her flesh. After the birth, relationships are multiplied with dad, grandparents, caregivers, and many others. Soon the child establishes his or her own individual relationships. Prayerfully, the child establishes a relationship with their Heavenly Father, which will take them through this life and into eternity.

They child is designed to perform many functions. The child will play and important role in God’s creation with skills and talents: child/student, husband/wife, employee/employer, nurse/teacher, servant/leader, parent/grandparent, producer/supplier, and contributor/encourager. Throughout our lives we continue to grow, learn and experience, enabling us to change and advance in our comprehensions and understandings. “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). We are created and designed to make a difference in others and for eternity. You are no sea turtle!