Skeletons and Alligator Lizards (No Fear)
A couple of weeks ago I had energy for the first time in a long time and no agenda for the day. That means time in the garden!!! So, in the cool of the morning I went out with my pruners and a rolling trash can to trim back overgrown plants and pick up leaves and branches that had fallen in the wind (or that our dueling squirrels had yanked off the trees).
I made my way around the bulb garden and eucalyptus garden, cutting back browned foliage from spent bulbs. Our lilies and gladiolas had bloomed in late spring/early summer; now their leaves were also done for the season. When I rounded the rose garden, I saw lots of twigs from the podocarpus trees that had fallen. I picked up a twig near one of my scripture rocks, knowing I was close to a skeleton we’d found of a squirrel…or baby skunk…or other small mammal. I brushed back the leaves that had covered it and wondered again what it was. Hmmm…
Well, I wouldn’t find out by staring at it! Better get back to work (even though it was kind of creepy)!
So I reached for a branch that had fallen and lodged itself on top of the nearby lantana. It was brown and long dead, also. I quickly picked up the branch – only to find a HUGE alligator lizard curled up beneath it, sleeping in the cool of the morning! I gave a startled shout and threw the branch back on top of him, while jumping out of the planting bed entirely!! I’ve seen this lizard a lot and he’s about a foot long! Talk about creepy!!
Now, I don’t like alligator lizards (as I’ve stated before) because they’re so snake-like. I know they won’t come after me – they’re more afraid of me than I am of them – but that logic doesn’t speak to my creepy fear factor at all. I just know I want to be far enough away from them that there’s absolutely no chance of any physical contact. However, as I thought about it, lizards are cold blooded. To move fast this guy had to get warmed by the sun – and the sun was hiding behind lovely clouds. This poor guy wouldn’t even have been able to move to get away from me!
So, I began to ponder and pray. Are there other things I’m afraid of that make no logical sense? Things I don’t need to be afraid of for safety reasons? Of course, I’m afraid of pain, bad news, disapproval from others, something happening to Keith, even a painful death (though not death itself). But the Lord says in Isaiah 41:10, “Do not fear for I am with you.”
Here are other scriptures that calm my heart by helping me remember to trust God and not fear:
Hebrews 13:6 “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Psalm 112:7 – 8 “He is not afraid of evil tidings (bad news); his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady, he will not be afraid.”
1 John 4:4 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
Psalm 91:4 – 5 “He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge…you will not fear the terror of the night or the arrow by day.”
Lord, thank You for the assurance that You are greater than any scary thing we can experience in this world. Help me to trust You more, even with creepy skeletons and alligator lizards! Amen
Skeleton Found in our Garden