Tater Bugs

     It didn’t take long for the grass to start turning brown and the back yard gardens to wither and die off. Shades of last year started to creep in with 100+ degree temps and low humidity, putting stress on every living thing in South Texas. What a wonderful surprise to have the weather pattern break, delivering us some much needed rain just in time. The local area has had three to six inches of rain and the forecast for scattered showers extends into next week. This is the kind of weather that glued me to this part of the country and maybe the weather is going to settle down finally, bringing us slowly out of the drought we’ve been under for several years. One can only hope. Change is good, but I’ve already heard someone complain about the rain and the mud. I was told when I moved here the only people allowed to complain about the weather were farmers and ranchers. It’s always too hot or too cold, too windy or too dry, but even they never complain about it being too wet. Water is liquid gold and without it we’ll all wither and fade away. So, for goodness sake, don’t complain about the rain.


     A highly publicized murder trial was about to begin. During the jury selection each side hotly contested and dismissed potential jurors. One prospective juror, Dan, was called into the room for questioning. “Property holder?” he was asked. Dan replied, “Yes I am.” “Married or single?”; “Married, for twenty years.”; “Formed or expressed and opinion?” Dan proudly admitted, “Not in twenty years, Your Honor.”

     Look hard enough and one can always find something to complain or worry about only to ruin a perfectly good day. One summer day a farmer sat in front of his shack, smoking a corncob pipe. Along came a stranger who asked, “How’s your cotton coming?” “Ain’t got none”, he answered. “Didn’t plant none; ‘fraid of the boll weevil.” “Well”, the stranger pursued, “how’s you corn?” Again came the response, “Didn’t plant none; ‘fraid of the drought.” ”And your potatoes?” the stranger asked. “Scairt of tater bugs,” the farmer replied. Finally the stranger asked, “Well, what did you plant?” “Nothin’,” answered the farmer. “I just played it safe.” Sounds like the guy of whom it is said: “He made no mistakes; He took no wrong roads; He never fumbled the ball; He never went down ‘neath the weight of a load; He simply did nothing at all.”

     [Matthew 6: 25-34] “Said the Robin to the Sparrow, ‘I should really like to know why these anxious human beings rush about and worry so?’ Said the Sparrow to the Robin, ‘Friend, I think that it must be that they have no Heavenly Father such as cares for you and me.’” (Elizabeth Cheney) Most of the people of the world spend each and every day worrying about the next day instead of making the most of the day given to them. In John 14: 1-14, Jesus delivers two very important messages to His followers, including all of those of the promise; you and me. (Acts 2: 38-39) One; There is more to come after this life is over. Two; He is God. We can also conclude from John 14: 6 that; “Without the (His) way, there is no going; without the (His) truth, there is no knowing; without the (His) life, there is no living.” (Thomas Kempis) Then comes the human rational, “I’ll become a follower just as soon as I get my life in order” and “I’ve done so much wrong in my life Jesus will never forgive me of my sins.” Just trying to play it safe, I suppose. What makes a person think their past can handicap the power of GOD? Repent of your earthly ways, be baptized and your sins will be forgiven by God.