Three days ago my husband and I climbed into our jeep and headed to an isolated pond in the forest. I love to fish so was thrilled to settle into a comfy chair on a dock that floated on the edge of the tree-mirrored pool. I cast out my line and waited.
The air was hot, but the trees that hugged the bank provided shade and the breeze that stirred the forest cooled my skin. Deep throated calls of bull frogs accompanied bird song. I felt as if I were being serenaded and thanked God for the special moment.
In the midst of my peace, however, something lurked. It wasn’t a bear or a cougar, although they might have been nearby. No . . . it was a spider. I was unaware of the creepy-crawly, otherwise I would have been doing my “Oh my gosh, it’s a spider dance.” I don’t like the little critters. Without my knowing it, he bit me.
My hand itched and I rubbed it against my pant leg. The itching intensified, but I tried to ignore it, thinking an especially toxic mosquito had drilled into my flesh. After a while, the hand started to ache and holding the pole became painful. Ignoring the discomfort, I remained in my peaceful state of mind.
Once back in the jeep I looked at my hand and was stunned to see something that resembled the Pillsbury Doughboy stuck to the end of my arm. By the time we made it back to the house the swelling had spread to my wrist and lower arm, and my hand was red and heated.
Upon closer examination I discovered two little fang marks left by a not so friendly spider. Eewww. The hand and arm ached, but there didn’t seem to be any other “terrible” symptoms so I decided against an emergency room trip.
As I write this my hand is beginning to look more like itself and the pain is gone. My spider encounter reminded me of 1 Peter 5:8 & 9 which says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
Even while in serene surroundings, in the midst of beauty, a lion prowls, hoping to destroy us. I know a spider bite isn’t anything like a lion bite, but while I wasn’t looking, just like a lion, that spider got me. God tells us to be aware, to be diligent, and to stand firm.
We don’t need to fear. God is on our side. So, enjoy the wonder but be prepared for lions with destruction in their hearts.
Grace and peace to you from God.
Bonnie
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Great piece, Bonnie. I started to write "great peace" -- an accidental misspelling, but it fits, doesn't it? You had peace despite the Attack of the Arachnid. Ewwwww! is right and I'm not afraid of spiders. An attack is an attack.
ReplyDeleteNor am I afraid of Satan because I can always turn to Jesus and resist him, but I hate his attacks even more than spider fangs. Fang marks!! Shudder.
It's awesome to know we can be confident when we're faced with an attack by the enemy. He's been crushed under the heal of our Savior.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Bonnie
Oh, this IS a great post. :-) I was picturing the serene scene, and then the spider happened.:p I personally hate most spiders and do the "spider dance" even as one of my family kills it for me. Oh yuck! Anyway, that was great how you took that true life story and made an inspirational example out of it. Thank you. It is a great reminder to how we can be confident in God; we just have to make ourselves remember that. And I love the Bible verse too. :-)
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Sarah D.
Sarah, so glad you liked it.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things about blogging that's been so good for me is that I'm more aware of God moments. He uses the "ordinary" things in our lives to teach us. We just have to be looking for the lessons.
Blessings,
Bonnie