SNAKEBIT
In disappointment and despair I recoiled at the sight of an
eight-year-old being snakebit, at such a young, tender age. All those around him, who love him dearly,
had warned, often, of the danger of snakes.
But, either a wicked playmate, or forces unseen, had lured him to the
snake hole. I did not see the attack; I
only saw the fang marks.
I looked away in disbelief.
I did not want to alarm the child any more than he was already
agitated. But, when I picked up the
I-pad, to play Hearts, he ran toward me, stopped, then retreated. He had left up the Yahoo search for “NECKID
LADYS” – but, I quickly hit the “off-button” and tossed aside the device. Then, I turned off my wi-fi router for the
rest of his visit. I had guarded his
dignity and halted his descent.
A life-long battle has begun for the little fellow. It sometimes seems as if the whole world is
drowning in venom?! At the very least,
this world has become a snake pit. It is
difficult to move without stepping on some viper. Far too many even worship the Snake?! We all need a good dose of herpe-phobia?! Such snakes should be killed.
Thank the Lord above that there is anti-venom. As Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the
wilderness, so has the Son of Man been lifted up, that all who focus on Him
might live! A mortal wound has been
inflicted in the venomous head. But, I
once saw a timber rattler, missing the top of his head from a shotgun blast,
still strike at a curious child who picked up, by the tail, the dying snake
carcass?! A wounded animal can be the
most dangerous.
So, what is to be done?
Snake-boots? Snake
repellent? Snake hunts? Some villagers, before the harvest, burn the
cane fields to run out the rats and snakes?!
At the very least, a cautious eye is mandatory. And, stay out of the high grass? May God bless our sons and daughters,
protecting them from the Snake!
Maybe, St. Patrick’s “Breastplate” would be appropriate as a
closing thought?
…
Christ with
me,
Christ
before me,
Christ
behind me,
Christ in
me,
Christ
beneath me,
Christ above
me,
Christ on my
right,
Christ on my
left,
Christ when
I lie down,
Christ when
I sit down,
Christ when
I arise,
Christ in
the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in
the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in
every eye that sees me,
Christ in
every ear that hears me.
…
