Lessons we can learn from geese

My mother is visiting for the weekend.  Like all mothers and grandmothers, she came with gifts.  Her gifts are the "life lessons" of gifts.  Her gifts don't fade or get old with time.  If received properly, in fact, my mom's gifts are a bit like fine wine: they get better with time.

Usually I have to swish what she's given me around in my head a bit, savor it.  Pine.  It is only after much thought most often do I come to see the true treasures she continues to give me.

Her gift to me today was a paper.  A paper that had been given to her at church.  She couldn't wait to share it with me.  After cleaning under children's bed, sweeping, washing, moving clothes from washing machine to dryer—I am now at a place where I can rest a minute.

I remember the paper after seeing it resting on my pillow {I placed it there so I wouldn't forget to read it}.

I start to read.

Here are the words.  I hope you glean as much from this as I have:

Lessons we learn from geese


Fact 1:  As each goose flaps its wings it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow.  By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.


Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Fact 2:  When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone.  It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.


Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go.  We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

Fact 3:  When the lead goose tires it rotates into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.


Lesson:  It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership.  As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.

Fact 4:  The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.


Lesson: We need to make sure honking is encouraging.  In groups where there is encouragement the production is much greater.  The power of encouragement {to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others} is the quality of honking we seek.

Fact 5:  When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and formation and follow it down to help and protect it.  They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again.  Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.


Lesson:  If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

This post is linked to Beholding Glory's Faith Filled Friday and Raising Homemakers


xo, Angela blog subscription  | twitter | facebook