Acknowledge

I've been thinking about acknowledging each other and just the word acknowledge in general; when I watch animals I've seen that they do this.

When I've watched my dogs acknowledge another dog (in their own territory) most likely they will notice the dog, gruff, and then stick their tails way up into the air and strut out to meet the wayward dog. My cats have hunkered down, watched silently until the new cat comes into their space; that is when they begin to snarl. The ducks on the lake swim towards each other then past each other and waggle their tails; if another duck gets too close, they will make a beeline towards the invader with their beak down to chase him/her off. I mostly see that during nesting periods. The loons on the lake will call, swim slowly towards each other and if they recognize each other, then they make all kinds of noises and splash around and look so happy to see each other. I figure that they must be old family/offspring. I've been told that loons don't share lakes, that each small lake usually has a pair of loons and all others are chased off. I only ever see two on our lake unless some welcomed visitors come then they swim around for several hours before I notice the visitors are gone and it's back to lonely loony calls again.

I've been blessed with so many moose around lately. We have to be careful that they don't stomp us! My niece told me that she is afraid of them because of their "stomping-ish feet." From the safety and WARMTH of my kitchen window I've been enjoying their company everyday for a few weeks now. One day my husband counted 17 moose out there!

Moose acknowledge each other too. How they can tell which calf belongs to them and which is a foreign one is hard to understand. With all the fast highway travelers we see far too many small moose all alone. It makes me so sad. They wander from moose pairs (cow and calf) to moose pairs seeking another moose family. But when the Momma moose senses that this young one does not belong, she will aggressively move towards the newcomer attempting to frighten it off. If that does not work, then she will lay her ears back and stomp her feet as she approaches again. The young calf (without a Momma anymore) will then turn and trot off all alone. It's sad to watch this. Poor things.

I think Alaska's highway speeds should be drastically reduced during our dark, icy road conditions we endure during the winter months. If not, then we need to acknowledge the presence of our young moose families out there and slow down for them!

People acknowledge each other in much more difficult, complex ways. Animals are so up front and there is no way you can miss the signal if they prefer not to have your company, or if they do want your company; which ever it is, it's very evident.

ac·knowl·edge
Function: transitive verb

1 : to recognize the rights, authority, or status of
2 : to disclose knowledge of or agreement with
3 a : to express gratitude or obligation for b : to take notice of c : to make known the receipt of
4 : to recognize as genuine or valid

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5,6

I have been thinking of how I acknowledge God in my life. So according to Webster to acknowledge has four meanings and using his description of the word acknowledge I can learn four things right now about it all.

One. Recognize His rights as God, authority as God and His unattainable status.

Two. Agree with the knowledge of Himself that He has given in the Bible.

Three. Express gratitude or my obligation of His gift; notice His attempts to get my attention in this world; recognize the debt that I own Him for such a grand gift as He has given to me.

Four. Acknowledge that I gratefully know that without Him I would have no chance of paying the awful price that only His Son could pay.

Day 58