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Lessons from Make Way for Ducklings

May 11, 2017 By Cara Putman

 

The other day the kids and I were driving along and saw the above sight. It was absolutely priceless and felt like we had stepped into the book Make Way for Ducklings. When we first arrived the mother was in the road at the side with her 12 or 13 ducklings next to her. Cars slowed for her, but went around her, and it was clear she was frantic. Then we stopped as did the other cars. She started waddling again, and then the man hopped out of his car to make sure no one tried to zip around who couldn’t see the mother or her ducklings. I wish I could have captured the little fluffs trying to hop up over the concrete edge into the grass. It was adorable.

@Cara_putman shares life lessons from a mama duck. #makewayforducklings #giveaway

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I still don’t know where they were going.

There’s not a pond anywhere near there. Even with all the extra rain we’ve had in Indiana, it’s unclear what the mother was taking them towards.

Maybe you feel like that right now. A little frazzled as life zips past you. You sense danger, but you also know you have to get across.

Or maybe you’re the one racing from event to activity and God’s asking you to slow down to notice the frantic mother in front of you. It may only be a pause, but you’re moving so quickly you can’t sense the need.

I’ll admit I’m a little frazzled right now as I work on an extensive rewrite that’s due this morning (ack!), finishing another book that’s due May 24th, and plotting my next legal suspense. Then there are all the regular life activities and a summer class that will absorb all my time as I teach 25 undergrads starting the day that next book is due.

Today I want to encourage you. Just start and ask God to show you where. He’s got a plan, and I know He’ll get you across that road or help you pause to hear how He wants to use you today. So from one harried heart to another, I whisper peace.

To thank you for reading and being part of my journey, I’m giving away either a copy of Robin Lee Hatcher’s latest book or Denise Hunter’s Just a Kiss. You can enter using the form below.

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Cara Putman

An award-winning author of more than 40 books, Cara is a Clinical Associate Professor in business law and ehtics to graduate and undergraduate students at Purdue University. She lives with her husband, four children, a perfect cat, and a sweet yet rambunctious shelter puppy in Indiana.
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Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: cara putman, giveaway, Make Way for Ducklings

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Comments

  1. Vivian Furbay says

    May 11, 2017 at 4:16 am

    The lesson in the little ducklings following their mother and trying to cross the road is very cute. We all need help when we face the problems that block our direction

    • Cara Putman says

      May 11, 2017 at 9:43 am

      So true. We read the book as soon as we got home.

  2. Sarah Baughman says

    May 11, 2017 at 5:06 am

    I’m the frantic duckling, and your post is so timely for my life! I’m waddling along, trying not to stress over the unknown place God is leading me. So thank you for sharing and for being a willing instrument of His work!

    • Cara Putman says

      May 11, 2017 at 9:43 am

      I’m so glad it spoke to you!

  3. Kay Garrett says

    May 11, 2017 at 6:24 am

    I loved the meaning behind the Momma and her little ducklings. It’s a lesson we could all learn from. Thanks!

    I want to read Stars in the Night, which is on my Goodreads TBR shelf, and I’d also love to read You’ll Think of Me by Robin Lee Hatcher. It would be awesome to win a copy. Thanks for the chance.

    • Cara Putman says

      May 11, 2017 at 9:44 am

      Oh, I love Stars in the Night. Still one of my favorite books!

  4. Betty Strohecker says

    May 11, 2017 at 7:26 am

    Thanks for the uplifting message. I really needed it today.

    Would love to win a book, but this type of entry never works for me – I’ve tried many times. Can never get through the process.

    • Cara Putman says

      May 11, 2017 at 9:44 am

      Betty, I’m so sorry! I don’t know why it won’t work for you. I’ll try to add you manually.

  5. Lucy Reynolds says

    May 11, 2017 at 7:31 am

    Would love to read both of these books. I would recommend Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette. Thank you for the chance. Blessings

    • Cara Putman says

      May 11, 2017 at 9:46 am

      I’ll have to look for it!

  6. Tammie O. says

    May 11, 2017 at 9:51 am

    Boy, did I need to read that today. I have had a week of frenzy and just need to slow down and listen to that still small voice. Thanks for sharing!

  7. Alyssa H. says

    May 11, 2017 at 10:10 am

    Thank-you so much for this post! I really needed this today!

    P.S. Pride and Prejudice is always worth a read!

  8. Una Ireland says

    May 11, 2017 at 10:11 am

    I would love to read either book

  9. Trixi Oberembt says

    May 11, 2017 at 11:02 am

    You have some great reads ahead of you! My choice would be “The Illusionist’s Apprentice” . Thanks for the chance to win.

  10. Jann martin says

    May 11, 2017 at 11:24 am

    Thank you for the fun example to slow down and take stock of where you are and what’s important.

  11. Linda McFarland says

    May 11, 2017 at 11:44 am

    My choice would be You’ll Think of Me by Robin Hatcher. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

    • Cara Putman says

      May 12, 2017 at 10:03 am

      It’s such a good book!

  12. Kathy Eger says

    May 11, 2017 at 1:01 pm

    Lovely post today.

    I suggest you read Beneath Copper Falls first…

    • Cara Putman says

      May 12, 2017 at 10:04 am

      I’m starting it, and it’s so good!

  13. Gail Hollingsworth says

    May 11, 2017 at 2:06 pm

    Right now I’m reading True to You. Next is Weaver’s Needle. Thank you for the chance to win Robin’s new book. I’ve read and reviewed your new one through Netgalley. So good!!

    • Cara Putman says

      May 12, 2017 at 10:04 am

      Gail, I so appreciate the way you encourage me! Thanks for reading and reviewing Beyond Justice.

  14. Donna B says

    May 11, 2017 at 9:42 pm

    This is a hard choice of what I would read first, but I would go with Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey. There are certainly a lot of great books to choose from right now. Thanks for this giveaway.

    • Cara Putman says

      May 12, 2017 at 10:11 am

      I really enjoyed Still Life, so I’m looking forward to diving into Cold Shot.

  15. Winnie Thomas says

    May 12, 2017 at 12:09 am

    Looks like you’ve got a great pile of books to choose from. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. I enjoyed Life After by Katie Ganshert. If you haven’t read it yet, you should add it to your TBR list.

  16. Terrill Rosado says

    May 12, 2017 at 1:22 am

    I’m going to say that I WILL read Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. Only because the paperback is sitting on my desk right now. It’s the book I was planning on taking with me on my flight tomorrow. 🙂

    • Cara Putman says

      May 12, 2017 at 10:11 am

      I’m going to take it on a flight, too. I want to be able to dive into it and submerse myself in it.

  17. Sabrina Templin says

    May 12, 2017 at 3:39 pm

    I love your quote above. I need that in my apartment really in several places to look at. I wish I had a working printer I would copy and print it off….lol
    And I would read “Just a Kiss” first. 😀

  18. carylkane says

    May 12, 2017 at 6:06 pm

    Lots of great books in your TBR! I’d read The Illusionist’s Apprentice first.

    Enjoy your Mother’s Day weekend! 🙂

  19. Elizabeth says

    May 15, 2017 at 7:21 pm

    Ooooo…The First Hostage by Joel Rosenburg. It’s on my tbr pile, too. I’ve read several other of his books and had trouble putting them down.

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