The Hide of a Rhinoceros

At my husband's pastoral ordination, one of the pastor's prayed for him to have 'the hide of a rhinoceros.'

Are you familiar with this phrase? It's always kind of fascinated me. People use it to suggest having 'thick skin', something impenetrable, armor-like.

In fact, a rhinoceros's hide is thick.

Some species of rhinos even have what looks like armor plating.

It's actually just folds of their heavy, leather-like skin.

Their hide has actually been used in making shields and armor.

Funny enough, this skin is quite sensitive to insects and sunburn. That's why they roll in the mud.

They also have a unique relationship with a species of birds known as tickbirds. These birds attach themselves to the rhino's backs and at first glance might seem to be pests and an irritation to the rhinos.

But there is a great benefit and advantage to consider. These birds eat the parasites from the rhinoceros' hide. They also alert them of any nearby predators with squawks and shrieks.

I wonder if some of the things that irritate and annoy us (generally people!) don't have some benefit and advantage in our lives as well. If we're praying for patience and God brings someone into our lives that is trying and difficult - has He not answered our prayer? So many character traits we need can be learned from the 'tickbirds' in our lives.

The trick is, we need to be like the rhino and recognize that the irritating nipping and squawking of others can often be to used to further our maturity in our walk with Christ.

Paul says in Ephesians 4:1-3 "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love."

And the benefit? Keep reading to verse 13: "till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect (this means mature) man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"

What's a few tickbirds compared to that?

All for Him,

Missy