*READ WITH CAUTION*
It is now the start of a bright and beautiful summer, but the things that seem to be consuming my mind are things that can be deadly &/or harmful to us (no, i'm not morbid). Those who know me, know that i am a deep thinker. Living here in Kansas i can't help but notice that 'deadly' things are all around us. haha! You know things like snakes & spiders & tornadoes, OH MY!!! Of course there are a billion ticks too, and even though those are mere annoyances...they do play a BIG part in all of this! I am truly thankful for the beauty of the earth...and all of its diversity. I love the idea of visiting new places. I am 34 years young and have experienced living in the mountains, the desert and the plains. They each have had their share of 'deadly' things, but living here in the very center of the U.S.A...has proven to be the most uncomfortable for me (in every aspect of the word). I'm speaking of the challenges i've faced & continue to face. For a long time i've been blessed to have night-dreams that direct me in answer to my prayers and warnings for my life... (It might be because i LOVE to sleep!) My dreams are the biggest ways in which i get personal inspiration & revelation. Over the years i've learned to pay attention. I won't share too much about that because of the nature of it, but i will share some of my thoughts about what i've felt recently.
SNAKES: I had a vivid dream about a snake, a lighthouse, my children and I. My children and i were at the beach. I was sitting & reading a good book and they were each playing at different parts of the beach. In my dream i saw (from where i was sitting) I could see the tall grass moving in certain spots. This huge, white, and poisonous snake came out of the weeds and turned toward me and stared for a second right into my eyes as if it it knew I was there, but couldn't see me. It subtly turned away and headed toward where my kids were playing. I got up as quickly and quietly as i could (so i wouldn't bring attention to myself). i snatched up one then two of them and was running as quickly as i could...all while screaming for my other children to look up, get away and run toward the 'lighthouse' where their Dad was waiting for us. I awoke just after this, with an accelerated heart rate! I knew right away that the snake was the Satan himself and that the lighthouse was the Savior.
We've heard stories of people being bitten (and hospitalized) by these 'fiery erpents' here at Fort Riley. My kids and i have seen a few of them too. It always causes me to reflect on my life and the lives of my children. Our best bet is to prepare ahead of time about what we would do if we encountered a poisonous snake. We decided that we would GET AWAY from 'it' as quickly as possible...because snakes are COLD-BLOODED & they will NEVER be our friends! Metaphorically speaking we would run to Christ through prayer and to His words through scripture!
It's the same when it comes to conversing with people. You are only as good as the company you keep. If we're around gloomy people, there’s a good chance we won’t be smiling either. We want to make it our mission to dodge negativity. Surround ourselves with supportive friends who have positive outlooks. "If you want to soar with the eagles, you have to stop hanging out with the ducks."
Optimism is a learned habit, and it is positively contagious. Surround ourselves with people who can infect us with positivity, not poison. In turn we pay it forward and share our goodness (in word or deed) with a friend or stranger – let somebody have that parking space, let that person with only a few items cut in front of us at the store. People who back 'bite' don't have anything good to share, so they do it behind your back, exactly where they belong... behind your back. Matthew 16:23 reads, "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." So to sum this up... Being smart & strong doesn't mean you have to hide in your home indefinitely or even wrestle the snake. True wisdom & strength is knowing when to get away from danger!
SPIDERS: One morning as i was walking to take my children to their bus stops...i happened to look up just as the sun kissed the dew of a HUGE spiderweb. It was spun between two trees and we figured the web itself was 2'x5'. I took a picture so i could display it, but you can't see it in the picture! Well, of course we were in awe at how magnificent and beautiful this creation was... until it dawned on me that it had to have been a HUGE spider that created it.....and that gave me the weeby-geebies.
Here's a classic poem that illustrates why spiders can be dangerous...
The Spider and the Fly
by Mary Howitt
Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I've a many curious things to show when you are there."
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."
"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"
Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, " Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome -- will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"
"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you 're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."
The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple -- there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"
Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue --
Thinking only of her crested head -- poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour -- but she ne'er came out again!
And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counselor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I've a many curious things to show when you are there."
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."
"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"
Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, " Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome -- will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"
"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you 're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."
The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple -- there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"
Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue --
Thinking only of her crested head -- poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour -- but she ne'er came out again!
And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counselor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.
TORNADOES: *sigh* The dreaded and dangerous tornado. I know they've been around for a long time, but while i've lived here in Kansas i've heard in many different forms & on more than one occasion, "I've never seen 'the' storms like this...and i've lived here my whole life."
This one is a bit harder for me to grasp...mainly because it takes faith! I have faith, but when the storms rage, i sure feel the fear! It's because I can't just 'get away' from this danger...it's because i need to have enough faith to withstand it! I have to trust with my whole heart! I know this sounds so melodramatic...but it's true. The primary song, The Wise Man and the Foolish Man says (sings) it all! We can prepare ourselves by being sure our foundations are solid.
I know that in the storms of life, we can always pray to Heavenly Father and He will hear and answer us, giving us the courage and protection we need to make it safely through. He wants us to turn to Him for everything, both good and bad. We have to do our part too!... OH MY!
Love,
Michelle
This one is a bit harder for me to grasp...mainly because it takes faith! I have faith, but when the storms rage, i sure feel the fear! It's because I can't just 'get away' from this danger...it's because i need to have enough faith to withstand it! I have to trust with my whole heart! I know this sounds so melodramatic...but it's true. The primary song, The Wise Man and the Foolish Man says (sings) it all! We can prepare ourselves by being sure our foundations are solid.
I know that in the storms of life, we can always pray to Heavenly Father and He will hear and answer us, giving us the courage and protection we need to make it safely through. He wants us to turn to Him for everything, both good and bad. We have to do our part too!... OH MY!
Love,
Michelle
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