Last week I spent four days in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains with my three sisters. Escaping the heat and routine for a few days offered renewal and resetting. The backdrop and the company grounded and refocused me on tasks and purpose in the real world.

An added inspiration, pulling me away from self and life problems, centered around the bears—juvenile black bears found in the Smokies. On a drive through beautiful Cade’s Cove, we saw five black bears. The first baby (one year) rummaged behind the Primitive Baptist Church, searching for grubs. Next, two juveniles scurried through the woods on the side of the road, playing chase. The other two crossed the road in front of us before scrambling up the hill.

I believe each young bear, whether rummaging, playing, or running, had a Mama bear watching. Her eyes probably never left them. She knew where they were and what they were doing. In nature that can be scary for the human. If she is watching them, she sees us.

We have our Heavenly Father watching over us as we veer off the path, making our own way scratching for food, shelter, and a place to play and thrive.

A popular song comes to mind as I picture God watching the whole situation. “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.”

Matthew 6:26 states: Look at the birds in the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.

God’s watching and providing as I play, read, write, talk, relax, work, and even leave the safety of the path.

Does God’s promise help you face each day?