Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Fight or Flight

I was walking to my mailbox and in the bushes was a black snake.  I calmly walked back to the house called my in-laws to make sure it was harmless and then I went about my business.  MAN have I come a long way. 

My first experience with a snake, The boys had a hamster that had gotten out of the cage AGAIN.  I heard some noises behind the washing machine, so I went in the laundry room to investigate. Soon the hamster was running towards me (which my youngest, Curtis caught) but I quickly ran out as well because there was a snake Slithering beside the wall.  I put Curtis (still holding the hamster) on the kitchen counter and Now I had a Dilemma.  I was scared to death and didn't want anything to do with that snake YET I did not want that snake moving to another room in my house.  SO I called my husband, who was not near as concerned as I was and His response was to "get a shovel and kill it".   I sat at the Laundry room door shining a spot light at the snake with a shovel trying to build my strength to kill it if it moved.  I called Uncle Earnest who came to the rescue!  He showed up with another cousin who took care of it. 

Another Crazy experience with a snake was last summer when Eric and I were going for an afternoon walk.  As we rounded the Barn, my husband stepped right on a snake.  When I turned to look at him, I saw the tail of the snake and TOOK OFF running and screaming down the Trail.  Thankfully Eric was able to run to the house, get a gun and kill it. 


We guess it must of just ate something and could not bite Eric.  After everything calmed down Eric realized I was standing 40 yards away before he even jumped off the snake.  Good thing that snake did not bite him because I would have been NO help.

City Girl Lesson:
The Bible Says over and over, Do not Be afraid.  As these stories affirm, fear is something I struggle with.  But I love the fact that Courage has nothing to do with the absence of fear, it is more about the willingness to confront it.   We can still be afraid, but we can possess the understanding of how to not let it rule our lives.  If I let my fear of snakes rule my life, I would never get to enjoy the beauty of nature I am surrounded by every day.  Letting fear paralyze you, will make you lose opportunities to experience the wonderful things life has to offer.  Believe me I am not ready to pick up a snake and play with it BUT I can respect their presence as long as they don't come to close :)

Be Strong and Courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

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