Fun With Mother Nature

Mother Nature has my little Chihuahua freaked out. It’s her first spring of the year and of course everything is new to her. At least she’s past being mesmerized by the flight of birds and all the noises that come with them. Now it’s flies and snails and beetles and ants. Two things she has recently learned to steer clear of; ants and cats. When one is build low to the ground it’s quite convenient to simply stop for a rest, while in the middle of a good run around the yard, sitting down in the cool damp grass for a moment before continuing. Youngsters don’t know enough to look where their sitting and when it turns out to be in the middle of a camouflaged, grass covered ant hill, well, the rodeo is on. Without a clue as to what was happening, poor Bella was rolling and dragging, and looking for me to rescue her from what ever it was causing all her discomfort. Luckily, they weren’t fire ants. Then, the other day while lunging at the neighbor cat in an attempt to provoke her into some play time, the cat swatted her on the nose and drew blood. To hear the dog tell it, as she was running across the yard yelping and screaming looking for a place to hide, one would thing the cat had hit her with a baseball bat. If that hasn’t been enough fun and injury to contend with, at eight and one half months old she decided it’s time to go into heat and drive the neighbor’s Chihuahua up the fence crazy. Bella is way too little for puppies and the neighbor dog is her litter brother, a bad mix all around. Yep, it’s just like raising kids; only faster.

Years ago there was a whole series of essays circulating from inbox to inbox that started, “Everything I need to know I learned from…” this or that. (www.joke-archives.com/allineed.html) One of my favorites is, “Everything I need to know I learned from trees.” * It’s important to have roots. * In today’s complex world, it pays to branch out. * Don’t pine away over old flames. * If you really believe in something, don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. * Be flexible, so you don’t break when a harsh wind blows. * Sometimes you have to shed your old bark in order to grow. * Grow where you’re planted. * It’s perfectly okay to be a late bloomer. * Avoid people who would like to cut you down. * Get all spruced up when you have a date. * You can’t hide your true colors as you approach the autumn of your life. Good logic.

[Psalm 1] “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the way of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and who’s leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” It’s never too late to plant a spiritual garden. Plant some peas: * Peace of mind; * Peace of heart; * Peace of soul. Plant some squash: * Squash gossip; * Squash indifference; * Squash grumbling; * Squash selfishness. Plant some turnips: * Turnip for meetings; * Turnip for worship; * Turnip for others. Plant some lettuce: * Lettuce be faithful; * Lettuce be kind; * Lettuce be patient; * Lettuce really love one another. Plant some thyme: * Thyme for each other; * Thyme for family; * Thyme for friends. Water freely with patience and cultivate with love. Who says nature’s boring?