Seven years ago, if you would have asked me if I’d be a country-livin’, snake saving, stay-at-home momma of six, I would have laughed in your face! I set a snake free today, seven years ago, that baby would have been DEAD!
Today, Matt’s momma, brother and step-dad came in town to hang out for a few hours. They spoiled us with some long-awaited, delicious Chick-Fil-A and we all spent some time outside fishing. Levi had just finished showing off his skills on the rope swing before running to catch up with Uncle T and Charlee as they made their way to a new fishing spot at the far end of the property.
The big kids were still staked out at their normal fishing domains. Mia, of course, was floating by herself in the lake until her big bro, Israel, got in to pull her back closer to shore. I hear my daughter, Charlee, from across the lake scream, “it’s a snake!” We all go running—toward the snake, I add. I turn around and remember sweet Mia is floating in the lake by herself so I go in and grab her, rip off the huge, non-swimming diaper that is leaking what my kids call, “diaper solution”, as I pick her up to head that way. I walk up as Uncle T. is trying to free the snake from our neighbors landscaping netting on the ground. With no hesitation, I get closer, Mia trailing behind. Uncle T said the snake is probably a goner, but my momma instincts kick in and I grab the pair of scissors from him and start snipping away. I yell over my shoulder, “not so close, Mia!” as she tries to grab the snake. I slowly release it’s body working my way up closer to the head. At no point was I scared of this poor snake biting me. He barely had anything left anyways. I got to the last few snips and backed away. He just sat there for a minute so I went back in and lifted him up with the scissors. He then quickly slithered away in the opposite direction. I stood up, felt a sense of mommy pride and handed the scissors back thinking, “yeah I just did that!” Ha!
We moved into this house four years ago. I wanted to be a country-girl, but I was fooling no one! I had lived in the suburbs or city my entire life. Yes, I was an outdoor loving kid, but as I got older and gymnastics consumed my life, I really didn’t spend much time in the “outdoor activities”…though I always pretended to be an expert! Matt and I moved in to this house and I literally went through every possible thing that could happen to my kids. With my anxiety on high alert and the fear of ticks consuming my brain, I absolutely believe that is what sent my body into preterm labor with Mia.
My point of all this? I don’t know…don’t be afraid to change and always have a posture of learning, maybe?! I grew up a wanna-be country girl and realized I had a lot to learn. If I wanted to be one, I needed to change. I needed to face my fears, loosen up and get dirty. I mean for goodness sake it was the Lord who brought us out here surely he won’t let a silly serpent take us down!
Although! I was thinking that whole time, oh this is a non-venomous, yellow-bellied kings snake. Charlee was yelling the whole time, no it is a racer and I later looked it up further and thought it looked like a rat snake. Who knows? Yes, all of those are snakes found in Tennessee and all are non-venomous, BUT what if it was a cottonmouth or water moccasin (which my 7 year old pointed out they are the same thing!). My point is…I was ignorant. I just wanted to help that snake and of course I knew what I was doing because I had watched (over the shoulder of my kids) many wilderness YouTube’s to know how to handle snakes. I felt confident!
Fear has been something I have written a lot about lately. It is a tough one. Of course, the enemy uses fear as his ultimate attack. It’s scary! It works! It cripples all of us in one way or another. It’s sneaky and dominant. It’s sly and deceiving. It even tricks us into thinking, “I’m not afraid of anything, why would I need help from a savior let alone anyone?” — only to reveal our fear of losing control of our so-called strength and power.
“The thief (the serpent, the enemy) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly,” John 10:10.
“But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ,” 2 Corinthians 11:3.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” Isaiah 41:10.
You may not believe in a Savior, but we all see the enemy at hand—the evil perpetrating this world. Believe in the redemption story…think how you feel watching it play out in the Disney movies, but this one, my friends, is 100% real! DO NOT FEAR!
Love you, all!