My parents live in a secured subdivision that has a small man-made lake in it. Some Mexican Whistler ducks, mallards, turtles, a Great Blue Heron and other critters have taken up residence around the lake but the most inspiring residents are a mated pair of Egyptian Geese. They hang out on a tiny circular island with an oak tree in the middle maybe 30 feet off the shore.
The female Goose is sitting on eggs. She's been sitting for literally two weeks without hardly a move (say my parents). Her mate hangs out on a wooden bridge nearby, perched on the handrail watching closely and scaring off any possible predators. This Momma is very dedicated! She lays so low in the grass that you can hardly see her head and only when she stretches her neck out. Otherwise, she's hunkered down doing her best to be the
invisible protective Mother over her precious eggs.
They only have a few babies a season and oftentimes the babies drown, are eaten by big fish, or are snatched up by predatory birds. Yet every season this couple goes through the whole process again (sometimes twice a season), fussing over each other, their eggs and then their hatchlings until they are big enough to survive on their own.
Each one in the pair takes their job very seriously and shows their mate the highest of respect. They honor the role that each of them has; they support each other whole-heartedly; they mate for life and they don't let distractions pull them away from all they love.
We humans might learn a thing or two from them...
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