A Test of Faith...did you have to use snakes?

Hello my friend!

     I have not wanted to talk about the following episode, have had so many problems with it, I finally decided to started talking about it, and it has gotten better, so thought perhaps if I shared with my friends, I could be well.

I believe in prayer, and Praise the Lord for His mercies. My God is faithful.

     My husband had to go out of town for a coupla days, about 3 weeks ago. I stayed home with the children, have been happy and at peace here. I fell asleep, around midnight (I did a little reading..lol) I was having a lovely dream, when a snake entered my dream, then became reality. I grasped it and tossed it out of the bed, I then jumped out of the bed, landing on the floor beside the bed, I screamed and screamed and screamed; I'm fairly certain I was close to hysteria. I shook myself, grabbed a shoe, (it was the closest thing handy) and searched for this creature that had invaded not only my home, but the sanctity of my bed. I did not find it, needless to say, sleep eluded me.

     The Rev. called the next day, I debated about telling him, I knew he could not come home, so in order to keep him from worry, I kept it to myself....day after day after day. Unable to sleep, I would lay down, and feel again the snake as it slithered upon me, it had made it all the way down to my leg!
     I began jumping and screaming at the least noise, movement, or touch. The Rev. insisted I tell him, and I did. He laughed.  Don't judge him harshly, I'm certain he thought worse things had come upon us, afterall, we've lived a very colorful life!
About 2 weeks later, I saw a little garter snake by the back door, as soon as I saw the size (and width) of it, I felt certain we had discovered the snake that had invaded our home. I had hoped that things would get better since I discovered that it wasn't poisonous, and have always heard how 'helpful' they are to have around. (If you say that 100 times a day, you might believe it...I didn't)
    The parsonage has set empty for years, the last pastor had his own home, and I had worried about what have claimed it (the parsonage) for their own habitation....and had took preventative measures, however all for naught.
Now, I stated at the beginning of this story that I believe in prayer. I have been praying, earnestly seeking the Lord for peace.  I began quoting the scripture:
     "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Is. 26:3
There were a host of other wonderful scriptures that I read, and quoted (I had always done so for others, this time it was me.)
Phill. 4:7, Ps 119:65, Is. 12:2....the list goes on.
They were all for naught, no sleep, nerves were frayed....not the home of peace I so cherish!
I, yes, I was going to have to get ahold of myself. Fear, it cometh not from God. And fear is what had taken hold on me. I did not like it.
I did not want any part of it. I WOULD not have any part of it!
My God is faithful. Two nights ago, I laid down, didn't wrap a pillow around my head, didn't feel the creepy crawly sensations, why?
Because my God was a protector. It (the snake) could have bitten me, I am a restless sleeper, but it didn't. Even if it had, I trust in the one who is able to heal...did I not?
This was a test, one that I wanted no part of, one that I had been failing miserably at, but no less a test.

Two nights now of rest. Blessed rest. I have always had the children quote the scripture,
"And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. " Job 11:18
I wanted my children to know rest, peace, and the wonderful comfort of feeling safe. This too became a scripture I quoted, but  I can promise you, it took on new meaning for me. Safety. What we take for granted!

It simply came down to, did I trust Him? Did I?

My God is faithful. Now, don't get the idea we are co-habitating with the thing....   Nay! However, we have been able to resume our life, and our sleep is returning...and I need sleep! Trust me!  I have a dear Aunt who said, "I'm just not nice till I have my coffee in the morning!" Her husband nodded.  Well, I'm just not nice if I don't get my sleep!  My family heads would be bobbing assent if you could see them!


     No coop yet here at the new parsonage, awaiting a break in the work. Began to look at the shed my husband has his things stored in, in a new light!  Wouldn't he rather have a new shed? The one here is so weathered, and beginning to sag, I'm certain he would like a new one for all his precious tools & things.....   
Perhaps.

Y'all Come
The Parson's Wife

P.S....don't let the snakes keep you away!!

Squirrel Hunting

Ever been around when someone is walking & talking in their sleep?  No?  Lucky you!
My first experience with this was on our honey-moon night....not funny! Some day, I may share that story...maybe.
      After almost 15 years of marriage (come March 27th )  I still haven't gotten used to it! It still causes me panic, to be awakened to HIS panic, in the middle of the night.
     The other night I was setting the house in order, the children were asleep, as was my husband, when I heard a panicked voice commanding me to bring a plastic bag!
"What?" I hollered back, "Bring me a plastic bag NOW!" was his tense reply! Something was wrong, and it had my husband disturbed, greatly disturbed! I grabbed a couple of plastic bags and took off down the hall, my husband met me at the door, "Don't get close!" he whispered. Instantly turning to a quivering jelly, I whispered back, "What are you talking about, what's going on?" My brave darling, tried to shoo me back into the hall  "Stay back, don't let it get near you!", he whispered hoarsely.

     Well, what with me being so brave and all, I began looking for the nearest high  ground! I found relative safety in a chair by the bed. Heart pounding, shallow breathing, I began to search for this terrible thing that had invaded our home! And what was he thinking? Catch this wild animal with a plastic bag?  I noticed something laying on the bed, saw it was one of our sons toys, and paid no further heed to it...searching, scanning...nothing...what was I looking for?  Our positions were comical, I was standing on the chair, in my nightgown, eyes wildly rolling in my head, the Rev. standing, bent over, hair wild and bag at the ready, circling the bed.
I was holding onto one of the bags...like I was really going to 'catch' something with it! My knees were beginning to get weak, thinking I was near to falling to the floor (where whatever it was might get on me) I begged, "What is it?" in a loud whisper.  "Don't you see it?"  "It's right there!" he pointed.  "Where?"  I shouted, (I mean replied).  With a deep breathe, to improve his lung capacity, he shouted, "RIGHT THERE ON THE BED, IT'S A SQUIRREL, BUT SOMETHING IS BAD WRONG WITH IT!!"
Oh yes....he was pointing at my son's rubber dinosaur!  Granted, it is funny looking, but?
I began to get the giggles....began to laugh so hard....it was nerves. I needed a release, all that pent-up adrenalin as I prepared to catch that rabid (for surely it had to be to want to come into the house with the Rev. on duty!) I sank to a seated position in the chair, then I looked at him and said, "Honey, are you awake?"  With just a hint of impatience he replied, "Of course I'm awake, now you grab it if it comes past you!"
I could not do anything for a little while, but laugh....he was still circling the bed! Well, my giggles subsided into hiccups, strength returned to my legs, and the night was getting on. Needless to say, I pretended to catch it, and he calmly climbed back in the bed and began snoring with a promptness that causes me jealousy! You can't really wake him up sometimes when he has these 'dreams', he's partially awake, and still asleep. Something had triggered him, perhaps he had touched the toy in his sleep, who knows?

What can I say?  Life is never dull for us.
You have to "see" the story I tell about when we were newly married, living in NC and we heard 'someone' walking in the house!   He was awake that time!
The chicken with the navel issue, has the 'squirts' this morning, am hunting in the search for answers...

Oh, hand is better this morning!  Thanks for your thoughts and prayers...

Y'all Come
The Parson's Wife

---