It was a gray and damp day much like the ones we have experienced this week. Only this time the rain had changed to snow, turning the landscape of Alexandria, Virginia—our home 13 years ago—into a winter wonderland.

Suddenly TV stations began running winter storm warnings along the bottom of television screens, cautioning against extended travel. Schools were closing and my husband called to say he was making his way to the Metro train earlier than usual. He thought he’d beat the Washington, D.C., commuters home.

With a break in the snowfall I hurried over to the local grocery store to stock up in case we got snowed in for a time. Because I was accompanied by my three young children—two of whom were not yet in school and wanted nearly everything they saw whenever we grocery shopped—I resembled a contestant who loads her cart with as many items as possible in the couple minutes she is allotted to shop with abandon.

Leaving both girls with the cart just outside the store’s front door to accommodate the rule forbidding any shopper from driving a loaded cart to their awaiting car, I hurried across the snowy parking lot to buckle my wiggly son into his car seat. The grandfather-like cart handler, hired by the store to supervise all grocery unloading, promised the girls and the food would be safe in his care while I pulled the car near the storefront for the transfer.

As I pulled into the grocery-loading zone I was met with not only a surprising sun break, but also a curious sight. Something in the sky had been spotted and the girls were pointing and hollering for me to look up. Hurried shoppers, intent on getting home before the impending blizzard, stopped, strained for a look, and joined in the excitement.

“It’s an eagle!” I could hear Katie shout, with a voice that has always been much larger than she is.

“It’s a bald eagle!” older sister Megan corrected, with some annoyance. “Don’t you know that Daddy always says birds have first and last names?”

The first time our family saw a bald eagle up close and personal we were driving through Oak Harbor, heading toward the older downtown shops. I thought we would drive right over the curb and it was all caught on a video being filmed for out-of-state family members. “Here we are, driving through the quaint part of town. Over there is….holy smokes! Look at that bald eagle. It’s flying right down the middle of street, over the traffic!”

Eagles have made a marvelous comeback since the ban on DDT and their listing as an endangered animal by the federal government. There are many to be observed and enjoyed, but you must gaze upward to see them. The immature birds (younger than 4) will not have developed that beautiful white headdress, so it makes the spotting a bit more challenging. A quick glance and you might think it a large red—tailed hawk, at first. But look toward the top of the trees and you will eventually see one. Frequently the beautiful white head of a mature bird will stand out dramatically against the green, aglow when the sun shines. If you are really observant, you may spot two birds sitting in close proximity to each other. The female will be noticeably larger (to cover her eggs) and the smaller eagle will be the male. Rarely will you see two of the same sex perching closely as they are extremely territorial now that it’s breeding season.

Every time I see a majestic bald eagle soar overhead the powerful and poetic words of the prophet Isaiah sound in my ears and nourish my heart:

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and His understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary,

and increases the power to the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall,

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

–Isaiah 40:28-31

The strength and power of God’s words came alive for me this week as I watched a mature bald eagle feed on a carcass in a nearby field. We had seen him soaring over our home and had a feeling he was eyeing our beloved Chihuahua, who could be grabbed in an instant if it weren’t for our constant escort. Thankfully, he had decided to feed on something dead, which we know pleased him because it was an easy, free meal.

Being able to closely observe his intimidating wingspan, dramatically white head, and creamy yellow beak have visually added to the scripture and brought the sheer power of these words alive. How interesting that God used our national symbol to remind me and you of an eternal promise: He will renew our strength. With God we can soar on wings like eagles. We will walk through the most trying of circumstances, on occasion, and not be faint.

Simply amazing.