Chasing Ducks and Surrendering to God

AnneMarie Miller reflects on what her adventures with pet ducks have taught her about surrendering to God.  

My skirt swishing around my legs, I dashed after the four young ducks, my hands reaching for their feathered bodies. Happily quacking, the ducks darted away from my hands. I continued my pursuit, chasing the ducks across the yard and in circles around the plastic tub where I would (hopefully) place them so I could carry them to the garage. 

My children peeked at me through the patio door, laughing as I ran around in circles. I was desperate to catch and put way our ducks so that we could leave the house for our scheduled commitments. I wanted to control the process and make the young ducks obey me instantly, on my terms and timeline. Unfortunately, no matter how fast I ran, I was rarely quick enough to grab the ducks on my own. 

I wish I could say that this scenario only played out once or twice. Unfortunately, more times than I can count, I found myself running in circles after my ducks as I tried to return them to their brooder in the garage.

I Succeeded When I Surrendered 

The majority of the time that I found myself in this endless chase, I only found success when I stopped my fruitless pursuit and instead did one of two things: I would ask one of my kids to help me corner and collect the ducks, or I would simply stop chasing the ducks and wait for them to approach me.

When I surrendered my control over the process and reached out for help or simply calmed myself and waited for the ducks to come, the job suddenly became much simpler. Before I knew it, the ducks would be in their bin, quacking away as I carried them to their temporary home in the garage.

The Struggle of Surrender 

In many areas of my life, I act like I’m chasing ducks. I feel determined to accomplish what I’ve set out to do — by myself. I want to control the situation completely. I want to resolve the situation in my timeline, according to what I deem is the best method. Even when this method seems fruitless, like when I was running in circles in my backyard, I keep at it, thinking that I simply need to try harder. Although I know I may look ridiculous, I believe that I simply need to persevere and never surrender to my own weakness or inability to do the job I set out to do. 

However, this act of acknowledging my weakness, and of surrendering my own agenda, is exactly what God invites me to do. 

Several months ago, a friend told me about the Surrender Novena. The first day I prayed the novena, I knew that this novena needed to be a constant part of my life. I have continued to pray the Surrender Novena “on repeat” ever since. Letting go of my own will, worries, and desires is a struggle, and my attempts to surrender are imperfect. However, God sees my feeble attempts to surrender and offers countless graces and blessings.

The Gift of Surrender 

A few weeks ago, I sprawled across the grass in the backyard as my toddler played. I stilled my body and the four ducks, larger now, waddled up to me and began nibbling at my muck boots. A chorus of cicadas filled the warm evening air with music and I looked from the ducks to a bracelet on my wrist — a gift from the Lily of the Valley Ministry after I went through a miscarriage — that says “Surrender.” Whether through raising backyard ducks, processing the loss of opportunities, or experiencing the death of a child, God invites me to surrender to Him, over and over again. 

This surrender is challenging, but it is a tremendous gift. In the months since I began praying the Surrender Novena, I have undergone deep sorrow and pain. However, although this time has been incredibly difficult, it has also been tremendously beautiful. I have received immense blessings, graces, and peace from God in countless ways. In my prayers of surrender, imperfect and incomplete as they are, God helps me to more freely receive His mercy and love.

What prayers help you surrender to God? What fruits have you seen in your life from surrendering to God?

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Copyright 2026 AnneMarie Miller
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