August in October

"We are like the wings of angels, bound together with the love of God."  Michael Bristol

A little wind named August blew into our house this last weekend.  She had grand expectations of going to a pumpkin patch as her sister did while staying with us.  Trying to reason with a 5 year old about how each child’s visit would be different and all the “other” things we had planned didn’t work out as I had hoped.  She had her sights set on that pumpkin patch.  If I had felt better (was a little under the weather), I probably would have given in and taken her, but a movie and “other” things were more manageable.  She was none too happy about it, but it is not all bad, as that is how little ones learn to deal with disappointment and life in general, preparing them for bigger and harder life experiences.  I tried to reason with her a bit, and after a few hours grew tired of the debate and told her we would have to have a talk with her mother if she didn’t drop it.  That worked, but in talking with a mentor about it, I realized that I should’ve better acknowledged her feelings of disappointment and sadness.  Then I should have expressed compassion for them before putting the brakes on the conversation.  It is so important that we express our feelings and have someone safe to acknowledge and show compassion for how we feel.

I don’t know if I am just being a proud grandmother, but it seems to me that this child is pretty darn smart.  I watched her craft some pictures with crayons and scissors and take some scrap lace and make angels with it.  She had a big angel and a little angel.  She called the little angel “little girl” and when she remembered she had forgotten “little girl” on the way home, she sternly instructed me where to find her and to put her up so that her sister couldn’t get a hold of her.  Little girl needed the big angel to watch after her.  So I went home and made a surrogate angel to look after her and until August comes back to Grandma’s.  She also created “puchin” (her spelling) pictures that now grace the walls of my cubby at work and paper ghosts that she hung on my potted plants outside.  Too adorable.

I often feel like “little girl”, even though I have many years of life under my belt.  Insecurity, abandonment, lost, fearful, hurt, and overlooked are all feelings that are quite often found peeking around the mask of autonomy I hide behind.  I want to be loved.  I want to belong.  I want acceptance.   But human love is limited.  Our love is conditional, exhaustible, and often disappointing. 

Good news… there is a source available to us that provides for our every need.  That source is God, the creator of all and the author and perfecter of our faith.  God’s love is boundless and unconditional.  We can shed our masks and go to Him with our burdens, as He is a not a dictator who sits on a throne and condemns, he loves and shows mercy and compassion.  He counts every hair on our heads and collects every tear that falls from our eyes.  He is our source of love and provides for all our needs, physical and emotional.  All we have to do is accept Jesus Christ as our savior and believe.  And, because of what Jesus did for me on the cross, I know that when it is all over, when I leave this life and step into the next, He will wrap his arms around me, wipe away all my tears, and welcome little girl home.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Scarecrow Finds A Home

“We must all make do with the rags of love we find flapping on the scarecrow of humanity.”  
― Angela Carter, Nights at the Circus

‘Tis the season to fashion a scarecrow, and we did so on our outing with our granddaughter, but we aren’t counting on him to actually scare away any birds as we clearly only have him for the fun of it!

Traditionally scarecrows were charged with keeping the crows out of the corn. They were the best kind of laborers, uncomplaining no matter the weather or working conditions.   Today, however, you are more likely to see a scarecrow relaxing on a porch swing or adorning a fall scene in the yard.  Ours is keeping watch by the front door.

Our little dog Hillary is undoubtedly not impressed with the scarecrow, as when he came home with us she showed her displeasure with him from the get go with barking and growling, very uncharacteristic of her normal behavior!  We found it quite amusing.  Maybe she is jealous that he is taking over her job of making sure no one gets in that front door unnoticed!

I suppose after the fall décor comes down and is replaced with Christmas embellishments, scarecrow can take his rightful place in the yard in preparation for his next assignment, watching over the spring garden…a job I highly covet!

The Urban Dictionary describes a scarecrow as “a protector; a legend; In the year 1589, the ancient tribes of Northern Africa spoke of a man that stood in the fields of rice to protect it from predators and evil spirits. It is believed, according to the legend, that the man had no name and no family. He was an orphan of Great Africa, his mother the sky and his father the nature below.  According further to the legend, when the moon was high and bright and the wind was nothing but a "calm breath," the ghosts of past warriors from enemy tribes would come out of their resting places and attack the rice fields. The "Scarecrow Man," as he was later to be known as, would fight them off.”

I don’t know about you, but I have tried everything EXCEPT a scarecrow to keep the birds outs of my garden.  I tried hanging old, shiny CDs from fishing line, brightly colored spinning wheels, putting birdseed in another part of the yard to lure them away, sending Hillary out to chase them off, and actually chasing them off myself!  I think the birds of today must have higher IQs than the ones that scarecrows or even CDs discouraged, as I always find some pecking away amidst all the scare tactics.

What in your life serves as your protector when the birds fly in to steal away your harvests?  Happiness, joy, loving relationships, peace, security…and love, a few things potentially in jeopardy because of the evil one who seeks to deceive and destroy.  God wants to be your protector, a love that surpasses all understanding is available to those who believe and have faith in Him.  Psalm 18:2 says “God is our protector.”  Not only does the Bible say just that, it also says:  God strengthens us and rescues us., 2 Timothy 4:17-18, God protects us from evil., 2 Thessalonians 3:3, God protects us while we are being tempted., 1 Corinthians 10:13, God protects us from our enemies., Psalm 56:9, God protects us from danger., Psalm 91:3-7, God protects us until disaster has passed., Psalm 57:1, God is always protecting us., Psalm 121:3-8, God's protection never leaves., Joshua 1:5, God's protection is reassuring., Isaiah 41:10, God's protection is powerful., John 10:28-30, God's protection is necessary., Psalm 124:1-5.

Nothing scary about that!