“But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.”  Isaiah 40:31

My relationship with eagles started in 1987.  This was the year that my father-in-law, with whom I was very close, lost his battle with cancer at the age of 58.  They lived in Tomahawk on the Wisconsin River and the day he passed away an eagle soared for hours over their house.  I felt an overwhelming sense that everything will be okay and that God was sending us a message that all is well.

Fast forward to 1993 and my husband Gary and I decided to start our own business.  As we were pondering names, I suggested Eagle Packaging, which to me signified freedom from working for someone else. I thought this fitting as the eagle had become a spirit symbol for me.  At the time we lived about 5 miles from the river in rural Prescott.  To see an eagle in our yard was something that never happened before.  So many times, when we were struggling to keep a fledgling business afloat, an eagle would appear.  Sitting in a tree waiting until I would notice and the feeling of “all is well” would wash over me.

As the years went by, we had many good and bad years in our business, and our marriage. My husband was diagnosed with bipolar in 2005. So now this roller coaster that I had been living on for so many years finally made sense to me. Owning a business together and having family work for us I felt a great responsibility to everyone else, so I just stuck with my marriage. There were some days when I thought “where are the eagles?” I haven’t seen any for a long time.

I had decided in 2005 it would make good financial sense to build our own commercial building. I didn’t have a crystal ball to foresee the future. We moved into our building and by 2008 our country was in a deep recession. Gary’s depression worsened. He moved out and came back several times, which left me trying to keep the business going.  Finally, in 2009 I had to make the difficult decision to file for bankruptcy, close our business, and end my 34-yr. marriage. I lost everything I worked so hard for, but told myself that nobody can take my God away from me. My faith sustained me. I never intended to get married again, but I guess God had something else in mind. I met Lowell and we were married in 2013. The eagles come to visit us on our property.  All is well.

Prayer: Lord, help us to open our hearts and keep watch for ways that you send us your love. Whether the message comes to us through nature or a person, help us to know that you are with us always. Amen.