By Richard Mabey Jr.

I simply cannot stress it enough, God loves you more than you will ever know. It is really true. For us to understand just how deep God’s love is, for each and every one of us, it is like trying to explain Einstein’s Theory of Relativity to an ant. The main thing to always remember is that God loves you more than you will ever know.

And, God will guide you through your roughest waters. When you are going through a tough time, that is just when you need to hold firmly to the truth that God will guide you out of the deep cavern to see the light of day once again. Hold dearly to this concept: God loves you more than you will ever know.

In the Summer of 1997, I went through a really tough time. I had been working in the International Public Relations Department of a very large telecommunications company for over 10 years. The department I worked in, the African Division, was essentially disbanded. I found myself out of work, stumbling for purpose, longing to once again to become a part of the working world. It was in that dark time, that God
brought a special friend into my life.

I had returned home to the warmth, comfort and safety of the old Mabey Homestead in Lincoln Park. At the time, my sister Patti was working as a Minister in a Reformed Church in Bergen County. My Mom and Dad were staying with Dad’s brother Edward and Uncle Ed’s wife, Joy, in a little town in Nevada.

The days were long, alone in the big two-story farmhouse. I began each morning by putting fresh water into the three birdbaths that abounded in the backyard of the old Mabey Homestead. I remember I would take a walk down Mabey Lane, take a few minutes to reverently look at the home that Grandpa Mabey had built when he was a young man. Then, I would hike the path of the woods to the old Morris Canal, specifically to the foundation of the old Mabey Ice House.

There I would read my Bible and pray for God to give me new purpose in life.

One morning, as I walked out to one of my backyard birdbaths, I was all so surprised to see a wild turkey walking about, near the birdbath. I quietly, gently walked to the birdbath. To my surprise the wild turkey did not run away. He simply continued to walk around the yard, near the birdbath.

To make a long story short, this wonderful wild turkey and I actually became friends. I bought a big bag of turkey feed. Every morning I would scatter the turkey feed all about, where my new found friend was walking around. There were times, when he would actually look at me and gobble, as if to say, “thank you my friend.”

In the midst of mailing out resumes and going for job interviews, my morning time with my turkey friend brought great comfort to my heart. Simply put, I loved to bring my cupful of turkey feed out to this charming little wild turkey. There was a certain joy that I found in watching him proudly strut around in the area of my birdbath.

It was about a month later that I landed a job in the Editorial Department of an ad agency. I first worked as first read proof reader and through the years was promoted to final read editor. I was even highly honored to be given the chance to actually write copy for a few ad layouts.

Is it possible that in the midst of my anxieties of being out of work, that God brought this loving, wild turkey into my life? I have no doubt that God brought the wonderful wild turkey into my life, to comfort the worry and anxiety that lied deep within the chambers of my heart.

Please know that no matter what you are going through, no matter how bleak things may look, God loves you more than you are mentally capable of imagining. It is true: God loves you more than you will ever know.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has recently had two books published. He currently hosts a YouTube Channel entitled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard may be contacted at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.