Ahhh! Snake!
Creative juices flowed as my fingers raced across the keyboard. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a movement. Cutting my gaze to the right I discovered a skinny brown streak slivering toward me at lightning speed. I lifted my bare feet as it zipped under my chair and my brain finally caught up with my eyes–Ahhh! Snake!
Before I could react, the sneaky invader disappeared behind a large piece of furniture. My heart raced faster than the slivering serpent. I reviewed the scene in my mind, trying to identify what kind of snake had entered our house as an uninvited guest. My computer glasses, strong enough to read at close range, cause my vision to blur at a distance. Without a clear view of the snake, I clung to the memory of a skinny brown crawly thing and hoped for a garter snake ID.
Image by PublicDomainImages from Pixabay
Unwelcome visitor
No matter the unwelcome visitor’s type, I didn’t want it in the house. As a farm girl, I’m accustomed to seeing snakes, but only in their outside domain.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1)
The devil utilized a wily serpent to separate Adam and Eve from God. He deceived Eve into partaking fruit from the tree their LORD God had forbidden them to eat. This mistake, their sin, changed everything. Yes, their eyes opened to good and evil, their nakedness, and to the seriousness of their mistake. Banished from the garden, their relationship with their Father was forever transformed.
Our Creator punished the snake, too.
So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heal.” (Genesis 3:14-15)
Ahhh! Snake!
Enmity between woman and snake–definitely!
So . . . what does a person do with a snake in the house? We knew it wouldn’t be easy to find–too many places to hide. Sweet hubby distributed sticky traps in hopes skinny snake might crawl over and stick.
Mostly, I prayed. That sir snake would go back out the way he came in (we don’t know where). I prayed I avoided an up close interaction with the intruder when on a middle of the night trip to the bathroom.
Four days after his first appearance, our snake presented himself again. My eyes maintained a close alert at all times, but especially when we returned home after being away. I hoped to spot our unwanted visitor in his search for a way out. I spied him in the doorway of a bedroom. It was then I had a better view of him and my heart went bumpity bump at the sight.
My hero
Thankfully, husband was at home. At my call of snake sighting, he came. The serpent scooted away, but hid in a corner behind the door. With broom and an aluminum racket my hero killed the snake. My fears had been justified. The snake was a young copperhead, not fully grown so his thinness had confused my blurred vision, but definitely a poisonness snake.
My prayers for protection from this unwanted visitor apply to the another unwanted visitor as well–the enemy. The devil is wily and crafty. He seeks to sneak into our lives before we’re even aware of his presence. Be alert!
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
I’m grateful and overwhelmed by our Father’s protection and care, but I confess–I still watch where I put my feet on those nightly trips to the bathroom.
Oh My! I’ll always remember catching a juvenile copperhead (that distinctive yellow tip of its tail) in one of my boxed glue traps over at the ranch. Have only seen, and killed, one here at “The Haven”, but keep my situational awareness on “red” when I’m outside. Perhaps I should inside the cabin too. I’ve long thanked God for His gift of Spiritual Awareness that helps me quickly identify when that “serpent of old” is trying to writhe its way into my life. Great post ma’am; and grateful for God’s protection for you and hubby, my friend.
Oh, My indeed, my friend. I considered calling you for wisdom but you must have sent hubby a telepathic message about the glue traps. We’re keeping them operative a little longer–just in case. yes, as farmers and ranchers (outdoor folks) we keep our eyes peeled for nature’s hazards. I’m thankful for God’s protection in this situation and always. I always enjoy the updates on “The Haven.” It’s aptly named. May God continue to bless you both.
Yikes! I don’t like snakes of any kind. I’m glad that snake was found. Yes, we must be alert to the evil of the world. Spiritual warfare is a real thing that my husband and I have been experiencing for over a year. God is good and He is covering us with His peace and protection. Have a blessed day! 🙂
I don’t like snakes either, Melissa, but I appreciate (from a distance) what the “good snakes” (those that aren’t poisonness) do on our farm. Black snakes and king snakes help control rodents and are a deterrent to the poisonness variety. Praying for you and wishing you peace and blessings.
God’s two mistakes?
1. Not ridding the world of snakes (I know that’s not
Biblical!).
2. Creating the prostate gland!
Oh, Tim, I laughed and laughed at your response. Thank you! I’d add mosquitoes to your list. Said a prayer for you about the other item.
Wow. So glad you found the snake and got him out of your house. I’ve had to tell Satan to get behind me several times this summer. He’s always rearing his ugly head when I least expect him. It so important to keep God front and center of our lives.
I’m so thankful that God answered my prayer that we could find the snake and get him out of the house. The devil just sneaks in when we’re not looking. I’m so glad you “discovered” his wily schemes and ordered him away. We’re so blessed with a loving Savior who helps us stand up to the enemy. Praying for you!
What a story! For me the best lesson was “watch where we put our feet”. That has many applications.
Yes, I agree, Marilyn. As a farm girl, I’ve always tried to watch where I put my feet (that sounds like a good blog message). But that was when I’m outside–I didn’t expect to have to be that careful inside! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I will not sleep tonight. Thank you Katherine!
Oh, Sylvia, I got a good laugh from your response. But no kidding, I didn’t sleep much that first night. Thank you for sending me a smile, but I hope you can sleep!
Oh, Katherine, I went crazy yesterday when just a raccoon was on our patio and the dog was barking at it. I am always on the lookout for the slithery enemies too. I’m glad you got it out of your house and no harm done to you or hubby. Such a great lesson about resisting our spiritual enemy, the snake in the garden.
Well, racoons can be dangerous, too (rabies is one thing we have to worry about here from our wildlife visitors). Thank you for your good wishes. I’m so glad our Lord protects us from those spiritual enemies–He’s always ready to answer our call for help. Wishing you peace and blessings.
How awful, Katherine. Finding a copperhead at our front porch steps was bad enough. In the house? No!
My feelings exactly, Diana. It’s no surprise to see snakes outside here (although I don’t want them on our front step either). But in the house was a shock! Take care.
Katherine, I opened the door to our dark garage to go to my car and was met by a 3 foot brown snake. It scrambled behind the refrigerator we have in the garage. My husband couldn’t find it when he got home. Because the room was dark and the snake moved so fast I couldn’t identify it for sure either. That night as our son exited our basement he saw a copperhead that fit the size of the snake I saw. He killed it. I hate snakes. I’m so glad your hubby killed yours and that God protected us both!
I’m thankful your son saw and took care of the snake, Debbie. Like me, you would have been worried about it being in your garage. YES! I’m so grateful we all were protected. Wishing you a blessed week.
A king snake once invaded our home, but he cooperated and we put him back outside. A copperhead … Well, I think I wouldn’t be sleeping well for weeks!
Satan enters uninvited, but we do not have to welcome him or tolerate his presence.
We once captured a black snake and released him outside. I’m glad you were able to put the king snake out, Barb. But a copperhead–Yikes! I still get the shivers when I walk through the room where the snake tried to hide and met his demise instead. I try not to think about where he got in and if there are more–oh, my!
Yikes! Like you, a garter snake would have been my choice if it had to happen, but a copperhead? No, thank you! A neighbor had one in their garage, and that was bad enough! Although what happened was scary, it led to a very good blog post from the experience!
LuAnn, I really, REALLLY hoped it would be a garter snake, but we couldn’t let a copperhead wander about inside or outside near the house, so there was no question of what to do with it. Thank you for your encouragement. I hope you have a great week!
Yikes. That is so scary Katherine. So glad God answers our prayers for protection in all situations. Praying you don’t get any more such visitors. Blessings
I was scared, Yvonne, and yes, I’m so very grateful for God’s protection. Thank you for your prayers–I’m praying, too!
I’m so happy you’re uninjured! Praying that none of us have the spiritual or physical “unwanted” visitor you posted about.
That unwanted visitor lurks about just waiting for the opportunity to infiltrate our lives. We are so blessed that our loving Father is just a prayer away. Thank you for stopping by, Joni, and sharing encouragement.
I shudder just thinking about your predicament! How traumatic that must have been for you. I’m happy God hears and answers our prayers! Great analogy with Scripture!
Yes, Candyce, it was traumatic, but I’m so grateful for God’s intervention. It was a wonderful reminder for me that our loving Father is always listening and always watchful. Thank you for your kind encouragement.
Gives me the willies just thinking of a snake in the house, especially a copperhead! We had a baby one on our back patio earlier in the summer and I still think about it every time I go outside even though my son killed it. Thankful the Lord kept a safe distance between you and the snake.
Yes, I had the willies then and sometimes now (when I think about it). So very grateful for God’s protection. Thank for your good wishes, Terri.