...Like Eagles

My next Stanley Spencer "Christ in the Wilderness" painting is called "The Eagles" [from Luke 17 Where there is a carcase, there the eagles will gather.
Eagles crop up a lot in the Bible.
I read that Eagles lay their eggs 'out in the wilderness' away from other creatures, in order to protect their young from harm. In this painting, like The Hen there is a sense of Jesus protecting the birds as they feed. Originally I thought about using that picture today, for Mothering Sunday -but decided against it.
Eagles have amazing traits - fiercely nurturing their young, phenomenal eyesight [including an extra eyelid to protect their vision], faithfulness [mating for life] incredible patience [especially when watching prey] and the ability to soar to great heights.
These are qualities also needed by mothers** 
- fiercely nurturing the young
- always watching for danger [eyes-in-the-back-of-my-head]
- faithfulness to family and friends
- courage [as eagles fight snakes, so mothers fight for the young and weak]
- incredible patience
- the ability to soar, achieving far more than you thought possible
Eagles catch the wind, ascending on thermals - using power greater than their own to reach greater heights than before.
**and fathers, in fact, needed by all of us!
Two lovely Bible verses which have been an encouragement to me in this past week
Exodus 19:4 - You have seen what I did, how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself
Isaiah 40;31 - 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.