Uprooted Part 2

Uprooted Part 1: click here

Chase glanced around him—the coast was clear. He had been avoiding a bobcat all afternoon. This strange bobcat acted like he wanted to be Chase’s friend.

Chase didn’t want any new friends. He had left his only friends behind when his family had to move after the earthquake.

The way looked clear, so Chase scampered up the tree to his den in the hollow. Momma raccoon said, “There you are, I was worried about you. Hazel and Day came home a long time ago. You’ve been gone hours. Did you enjoy your hunt?”

“I didn’t get much. There was a bobcat bothering me. I spent the last hour trying to lose him.” answered Chase.

“Why did you want to lose him? Was he bothering or hurting you?”

“No. He said he wanted to be my friend. I don’t want him as a friend.”

“Chase, you know we aren’t going back to our old den. It’s been over a month. Your sisters have new friends and are enjoying their new home. You need to make new friends here. You will be miserable if you keep to yourself and mope around.”

Chase flopped down on his bed of leaves with a huge sigh.

Daddy came in right then. “Hey everyone, I have a visitor. Bronco, come on in!”

Chase glanced up and couldn’t believe his eyes! Standing there was the bobcat he thought he had outsmarted.

“Bronco, this is my family. Mrs. Raccoon, Day, Hazel, and I believe you know Chase.” said Daddy with pride.

“Hi.”

Everyone acknowledged him except Chase. Chase buried his head in his arm and tail. Daddy frowned. “Chase, can I please see you outside?”

Chase reluctantly got up and followed his daddy outside.

“What is wrong with you? This young cat wants to be friends and you ignore him. That was rude. He is a nice kitten and I met his dad and he seems a good sort too. I want you to apologize to him and go for a walk with him and try to get to know him.”

Chase nodded. They went back in the den and Daddy said, “Bronco, Chase would like for you to go for a walk with him. He can show you around.”

Chase glanced at Daddy and then led Bronco down the tree.

He heard the bobcat following him, but didn’t look at him. They were halfway to the berry bush before Chase said, “I’m uh, sorry I acted like I did back there. I was just surprised you showed up.”

“That’s alright. Where are we going?”

“There is a bush that has a berries on it and I thought you might like to try some.”

The berries were delicious. Chase pointed over Bronco’s shoulder. “There is a stream behind those boulders where we can get a drink.”

Soon, the youngsters were splashing and playing in the water. That’s where Daddy found them. He joined in the fun until it was time for Bronco to go home.

“Maybe we will see you on the hunt tonight.” A smiling Chase told Bronco.

Back at the tree dwelling, Daddy said, “It looks like you had a good time with Bronco.”

Chase smiled and said, “Yeah, he’s fun to be around. He can jump higher than I can, so he is going to teach me. I will introduce him to raccoon things too.”

 “I’m proud of you for making a new friend. We can choose to be lonely and miserable or make friends in our new location. Now, if you could make friends with the owl in our tree, maybe he will drop us a fish occasionally or sing us a lullaby, now and then.”

“You’re on! But, I don’t think he will want to sing to us!” The family laughed at the picture that statement created.

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Chase had a hard time adjusting to his new environment. He missed his friends. When he was forced to be around another animal, he made a good friend. Children, have you moved, or know of someone who has? Moving can be tough. It’s hard to live in a different community, city, state, or even country. The Lord knows how you feel. Unlike Chase, you can tell your feelings to the Lord. The Lord yearns for you to let Him help you. Your parent or guardian is also available for you to share your feelings. Remember to try to make the best of things and to be content wherever you live.

 

Please memorize this verse: Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

For this verse in song: Click here

 

Verses are in NKJV unless otherwise stated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contentment vs. Gluttany

We recently moved into a house from an apartment. I love my new digs. This place is much larger, and so, I’ve had fun buying some additional furniture at second hand stores. It is a one story, called a ranch, with a two car garage and a fenced back yard. I love to sit on the front porch protected by trees and read sipping tea or coffee. Some old chairs caught my eye at a second hand store, and I gave them a bright facelift in vibrant colors.

 

I have a room for an office where I can let my imagination take flight, with no interruptions. In this house, I can sing out loud and not worry I’m bothering the neighbors. The neighborhood is a nice quiet one where walking the streets is enjoyable.

In our back yard are many trees. Three of the trees have dark burgundy leaves and a few weeks ago was burdened with a bazillion berries.

The birds discovered them and for three days devoured them. I loved watching them through our huge window. Some birds hung upside down to pick off the berries. The frenzy was intense. The birds were afraid they wouldn’t get their fill. Flying here and there, swarming and swooping all around the yard. Unfortunately, some hit our window thinking the reflection was more berry laden trees. I turned the vertical blinds so we could see out but it distorted the reflection enough to keep the birds from breaking their necks.

The birds made me think of gluttons who seem to feel they need more and more and are never satisfied. They grab food and devour it so fast almost afraid someone will take it away from them. I want to be thankful for my food and content with a portion I need to sustain me but not to overdo it. The Bible warns against gluttony. Proverbs 23:1 b-2 Consider carefully what is before you; and put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. That seem pretty harsh. What it means is to think about what you put into your mouth and beware lest you become a glutton.

Another bird I like to watch is the humming bird. For the first time in my life I put up a humming bird feeder. They love my simple sugar concoction. The humming bird is like a helicopter, in the fact that they hover. Their little wings beat 50 time a second and can fly as fast as 35 miles an hour!  Wow! They are also pretty too.

 

The bees also enjoy the feeder. A wasp has started to drink the nectar but is not wanting to share. He chases away the humming birds. This is silly because there are four places to drink from. He is acting like a glutton.

A week ago I had surgery on my nose. It was broken a while back and an infection had developed that would not go away. The surgery lasted an hour but the healing process will take some time. During the first week of recovery, I was glad to sit on my sofa and watch these amazing birds. It gave me pleasure. I love God’s creation. The Lord is creative. God made a world full of wonderment for our enjoyment. We have many kinds of animals, birds, fish, reptiles, and insects to observe. They are full of colors and delightful attributes. All creation points to the Lord as their creator. Psalm19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handy work.

We should be thankful and content where the Lord has put us. Wherever or whatever your circumstances, please thank the Lord, and be content. We also should not become gluttons but thankful for our daily bread for our needs.

I thank the Lord for giving us a beautiful world to live where we can enjoy his creation. I feel blessed to be able to spend time with you each week, telling you stories from my mind, and retelling of people in time past from the Bible. The Lord put on my heart this wonderful enjoyment of teaching godly principles to you, the reader. I hope these lessons I write every week touch your heart in the way they are intended. God bless you.

If you have not done so, please memorize one or both of these verses:

Proverbs 23:1 b-2 Consider carefully what is before you; and put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.

Psalm19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handy work.

 

Verses in NKJV unless otherwise stated

 

Self-Esteem

Observe the people around you. For the most part everyone looks similar. They may have different color hair, eyes, or skin and be shorter, taller, or average but they are the same. Examine closer, people wear the same style clothes and hair. Whatever is popular is what people wear or do. Children like to play the same video games and have the same toys. If it’s popular to play a certain sport or musical instrument, then that's what they want to do.

When my daughter was in the 5^th grade, the school had an orchestra. We told her she could pick any instrument she wanted to learn to play. She had been taking piano lessons for a few years and could read music pretty well. All her friends picked an easier instrument, the clarinet, so that is what she chose. We tried to get her to play the flute or a stringed instrument. She became determined to play what everyone else was. All of us want to be like everyone else. It’s hard to be different. Should we be different?

Lachlan's appearance is the same as the rest of his family. He doesn’t mind that so much, but doesn’t like being different than the other animals.

Lachlan is a platypus.

The first time Lachlan came out of his burrow he was 4 months old. His little legs were wobbly. He did better in the water and became a great swimmer. Lachlan noticed how different he and his family were from all the other animals and he didn’t like it. There weren't very many in his family so he felt separated and alone.

His mom watched him walk funny one day and asked, “Lachlan, what are you doing?”

“I’m trying to walk like a dingo.”

“Silly, you’re not a dog. You’re a good looking strong platypus.”

Sadly, Lachlan slipped into the water and dove down far. Too soon he had to come up for air.

He was frustrated. He observed the dingoes running, jumping, and leaping on their long legs. They looked to be having a great time.

One day, a kangaroo hopped past right as Lachlan came out of the water. Impressed with the kangaroo and called, “Hey, can you teach me that?”

The kangaroo stopped and turned. “Teach you what?”

“I love the way you hop. Can you teach me?”

The kangaroo regarded Lachlan's short legs and webbed feet. Laughing, the kangaroo hopped off.

Tears of shame and frustration slid through his fur.

The next day, he encountered another animal he had never seen before. “Momma, what is that?”

“It’s a wombat, dear.”

Lachlan liked this animal because it had short legs like he did. He watched the  animal munching on grass. Lachlan decided to try the grass. He had trouble tearing a piece off and ended up with a huge clump into his mouth. The grass didn’t taste like anything he normally ate and got caught in his grinders. He finally swallowed the clump whole because he didn’t want to appear awkward by spitting it out. The wombat seemed to be relishing his meal. On closer inspection, Lachlan realized the wombat had sharp teeth.

“Do you only eat grass?” asked Lachlan.

“I also eat flowers and other plants. I like grass the best it’s so yummy and I don’t have to chase my food like you do.”

The wombat stuck his wide head in the air and ran into the forest.

One afternoon, his mom watched him gazing up in a tree. “Lachlan what has caught your attention?”

“Mom see that animal in the tree? He’s furry like me, but can climb a tree. I wish I could climb.”

“That my dear is a koala bear. He’s cute alright. Why do you want to climb a tree?”

“I want to be like all the other animals. I can’t run, jump, hop, climb, or eat grass. I don’t want to be different.”

“Oh, I understand. Sweetheart, you were made perfect. Come over here.”

She led him to the water’s edge and said, “Look at your reflection. You are special. You have a bill and webbed feet like a duck, a tail like a beaver, and you’re a mammal like a dingo and koala. We can lay eggs and are able to sting with venom like a snake. You swim almost as well as a fish and you sense where animals are under water with your eyes closed because of their electric current. Our home is underground like the wombat. You are all these animals all rolled into one neat package.”

Lachlan thought about what she said. With a huge smile he said, “You’re right. I can do so many things other animals cannot do and I look pretty cool too!”

Snuggling against her son she said, “You’re right. You were made the way you should be. There was no mistake. You should be proud of your differences and your sameness.

Boys and girls, God made you special the way you are. He doesn’t make junk. We all are different and the same. Be yourself. Don’t be afraid to be different --to stand out. Be a leader. The Bible says in Psalm 139:14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…Job 10:8 and Psalm 119:73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me…

Memorize one or both of these verses: Psalm 139:14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…Job 10:8 and Psalm 119:73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me…

Verses in NKJV unless otherwise stated.

Contentment

Do you like snakes? I’m not a fan of snakes. My mom hates snakes and will not like reading this story about snakes. Have you ever held or touched a snake? It is not slimy like people think.

Snakes do not see well and find their prey, which is the animal they will kill and eat, by smelling them with their forked tongue. They stick out their forked tongue which collects airborne particles that are then transferred to an organ in their mouth. That organ gives the snake a directional sense of smell and a taste at the same time. If they like the taste, they will silently slither over to the food.

Snakes do not have legs. They were given legs at creation, but at the Fall, when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God told the snake it would slither on its belly from then on. You can read about it in Genesis 3:14-15.

Shibe (pronounced SHEE-bey) is an African house snake.  His name means satisfaction, but that is not how Shibe thinks or acts. Shibe is sad and angry because he has to slither on his belly to get around. He wants to walk upright. He wants to be like other animals he sees. Rats, rabbits, lions, giraffes, and even turtles have legs. All the other animals have legs. He feels cheated. He tries to stand up. He raises his head and the top part of his long body until he falls back down. He just cannot stand up. Shibe is so upset that he cannot stand! He wants to so badly! He doesn’t like to be on his belly all the time. Even though he can slither so silently through the grass and sneak up on an unsuspecting rat, he is not satisfied. He doesn’t realize he is special for what he can do and who he is.

Olina (pronounced Oh-LEE-nah) is a beautiful tropical fish who lives in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii. Olina’s name means joy or joyful, but Olina is not joyful. She is not happy she is a fish. She wants to be able to live outside the water. She is sad she is confined to the ocean. The ocean in which she lives is very blue, clear, and beautiful water.  She can swim in any direction all over the ocean if she wanted. She has many friends she can play with among the seaweed and coral. She is one of the most beautiful fish in the whole ocean. That doesn’t matter to Olina. She would rather live on land. She swims to the surface near shore to watch animals and people walk around and breathe air. She desires to do that. Some days she dreams about getting out of the water. Once she tried to. She swam out of the water onto the shore. She lay there feeling the sun on her scales but soon she realized she couldn’t breathe. A child happened to walk by and saw Olina in distress trying to breathe and tossed her back in the water. Olina did not learn her lesson. She still wishes she could live out of the water.

Warthogs are funny looking animals. Chimalsi (pronounced CHEE-mahl-see) is a warthog who lives in Africa, and his name means proud. Chimalsi is not proud of being a warthog. He hates being a warthog. He wants to fly through the air like so many birds he sees every day. He would watch the birds fly, swoop, and catch their prey in their talons and fly back to their nests. He would sit for hours wishing he were able to fly. He forgot all the things he could do like run and play. He forgot about his cool tusks and the neat sounds he could make. He forgot about being a warthog. The other warthogs are worried about him because he is always by himself watching birds. Sometimes he would kill an animal and leave it there so the vultures would swoop down and eat it. He would watch them while his own tummy was crying out with hunger. He is getting weaker by the day for not eating and taking care of himself. The other warthogs keep trying to make him eat and act like a warthog. He is depressed because he can't fly and be different than he is.

I just told you some fictional stories about three different kinds of animals. They were all different but had the same problem. They were not content to be who they were made to be. Content or contentment means to have gladness, happiness, and satisfaction. We need to be content or satisfied in our lives with the way God made us and the blessing He gives to us. Some of us cannot run  as fast as someone or read as well as someone else. Maybe we have trouble spelling words or doing math. Maybe one of us was born with a disease or disability. We are perfect the way God made us because God does not make junk.

When I was young, I developed a curvature in my spine called scoliosis. This makes me have back and neck problems. My spine is twisted so that my right hip is higher than my left. When I was a young lady, I had my mom hem my skirts and pants crooked so they looked straight on me and maybe people would not notice I was crooked. I was self-conscious. That was silly, and thankfully I out grew that feeling. Now I don’t care if my skirts are uneven because I am crooked. God made me that way.

I also have another problem. It is with words. I do not spell well, and I am dyslexic, which means a number of things. One of them is that I flip my letters out of order and even talk that way sometimes. This makes it difficult doing what I am doing now--writing a story to you. I could get angry and not tell you stories, for fear of making mistakes and looking stupid. I choose to not get angry and to be content that God made me this way. I have to work harder at writing and spelling than most people do. I get frustrated, but I have learned to work through it. I will not let this problem I have take away the pleasure of telling you stories. God gave me a job to do, and it is to tell stories that direct the readers to Him. I pray my mistakes will not be a hindrance to those of you who read very well, and you will be forgiving and realize I am doing the best I can. I have help. My daughter, Cindy, edits my work. I need her like someone who has broken a leg needs a cast and crutches.

God wants us to be thankful for the abilities or disabilities we have. Do you struggle with any difficulty in your life? Thank God for it and work through it. 1Thessalonians 5:18 says, In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.   Verse 8 says, And having food and clothing with these we shall be content. Hebrews 13:5a Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. Covetousness is desire or wanting something someone else has. Conduct is the way you act in your life. Philippians 4:11 says, Not that I speak in regard of need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. So the Bible makes it clear that the Lord wants us to live in contentment. We need to be content with what we have and how we were made.

If you have any questions for me please leave them in the comment box and I will gladly answer you.

Memorize: Hebrews 13:5a Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.

Verses in NKJ unless otherwise stated.