Critters!

 by Macy Johnson

“I will prevent pests from devouring your crops,

and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit.”

(Malachi 3:11 NIV)

 

After my morning walk, my husband called me over to a tree in our garden. A large rat snake had climbed into a bluebird house to keep warm on that chilly October morning. We are quite fond of George – he helps to keep the rodent population on our property under control.

 

Jeff set the armadillo trap again. Armadillos have not been as destructive this year, since my husband put more barriers along the potential digging areas, but one is now seeking grubs near our house. The evidence clearly points to potential damage to the house’s foundation.

 

The squirrel population has increased lately. Our neighbor claims he is waiting until all the foliage falls off the trees before he starts eradicating the “tree rats.” I couldn’t wait to get a pellet rifle and begin the removal ritual sooner. The first day I hit three squirrels and missed three. Not a bad record so far!

 

Coming home from Publix one afternoon a beautiful gray fox darted across the road in front of my car. A raccoon crisscrossed a few feet from my car after choir one evening. I have seen many deer lately, too. God’s creation revealed in critters is everywhere I look. We share this planet with many stunning species.

 

Pests will always be with us. Malachi told us about them, warning of their innate destructive ability if we do not give God all that He is due. Unwanted critters eat our crops, chew on equipment cables, dig in our yards, and even crawl on overhead power transformers to cause outages! 

 

I will be diligent in protecting the property that God lets me enjoy for His glory. I hope you will, too!