Spiders and Snakes!
My sweet daughter and her family helped me with some landscaping chores recently. Spying an old tarp previously used to hold a load of mulch, she asked, “Don’t you want to move this old tarp?” She poked at the leaves accumulated on the ragged tarp and added, “I expect there are spiders and snakes under it.”
Spiders and snakes
As farm girls we’re used to spiders and snakes in abundance. But don’t assume that we like spiders and reptiles as pets. But we recognize the benefits of fly catchers and rodent eaters on a farm.
And, of course there were spiders and snakes under the tarp. We found a black widow and another huge spider almost immediately. Continued exploration revealed half dozen baby black snakes. The spiders met their demise with my boot, but we attempted to rescue all the baby blacks and move them to a safer location.
Snakes and their reputation
Snakes experience a bad reputation since the serpent deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. We apply negative labels for snakes or attach derogatory descriptions to people: snake in the grass; mean as a snake; evil as a snake; etc.
But, on a farm there are good and bad snakes. We keep the good ones. The “good” snakes are non-poisonous (like the black ones we relocated). They not only keep poisonous snakes away, these beneficial reptiles help control the rat and mice population. Poisonous snakes can be a danger to people, livestock, and pets, so we usually eliminate those if near the house or barns.
But as much as I know the benefits of snakes, I like to see them first. I’m not at all happy when I come in close contact with a snake unawares.
Up close and personal (too close)
When we finished moving the tarp, my granddaughter and I made our way to the hay shed in preparation for horse feeding. I retrieved a bale from the back corner and rolled it toward the front of the building. We use square bales–although they’re really rectangular in shape. Small enough for me to lift, although these weigh around sixty to seventy pounds.
Suddenly there was a snake on my feet!
I screamed like a little girl–snatched my granddaughter off the hay–looked for a weapon. No shovel available. I let the snake escape under the bale of hay I’d rolled and retrieved a bale from the other end of the shed.
As I pushed the wheelbarrow toward our barn, my brave girl said in a tiny voice, “I was scared.”
“I was scared, too,” I answered.
When is good bad?
The snake was a beautiful pale yellow and orange. I’ve never seen one of that variety before, but suspect it was either a corn or rat snake. I haven’t met him/her again in the hay shed, but you can be assured I carefully look at each bale and roll it over to examine every side before I pick it up.
I don’t think this snake is poisonous, so I’ve labeled it a “good” snake, but the experience has me pondering–when does something good become bad?
That snake scared the heebie-jeebies out of me–probably not good for me.
Too much of something good can become a bad thing, whether too much coffee, food, sleep, leisure time, work, or vacation. Too much money may lead to bad things. We must balance the good in our lives so that bad results don’t happen.
Have you ever had the experience of something good becoming something bad?
God’s love is always good.
I’m thankful God’s love is something we never have too much of.
Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5)
Good story! I hate snakes too although I know most of them are good. I keep watch for them every time I’m out walking on the farm.
Too much of a good thing can be bad (like too many good snakes to scare us!)
I know you are a “farm girl” too. We have to watch where we step for lots of various critters, but I think snakes are the ones that really make my heart go bumpity-bump if our slithery “friends” get too close. I hope you’re getting sunshine and moderate temperatures for your garden. We’ve had an abundance of rain and wind recently. Blessings!
A black snake fell from the top of the back porch down my mother’s back years ago. My dad captured it and took it to the barn. Dad appreciated its usefulness much more than Mom did!
Katherine, I appreciate your willingness to move the “good” snakes. I know they eat the rodents and poisonous snakes, I just dont want them near me. I would have freaked out too if one ran across my foot. We do need to balance the good and use whatever we have wisely.
Thank you, Barbara. Balance is something we need in all aspects of our lives and our relationship with our Lord guides us on that pathway. Wishing you a blessed week.
Oh, my goodness! That’s terrifying! I can imagine your mother’s lack of appreciation for snakes from that point onward. Thanks for sharing, Diana. Peace and blessings!
Even exercise can become a bad thing if we overdo it, leading to stress fractures, for example. My sister learned there was such a thing as drinking too much water!
I shuddered when I read about your close encounter with the snake.
Thanks for sharing your insight, Candyce. You are definitely right that an excess of something good can become dangerous when we overdo or become obsessed. I hope you’re experiencing joy, sunshine, and good weather. It’s cool and blustery here this week, but I’m grateful for sunshine. Happy writing!
I don’t care who you are, when you come upon one slithering across your boot when you’re not expecting it, you react! So glad it wasn’t a poisonous one, but venom comes in lots of different flavors, doesn’t it. A sudden scare often creates a surge of adrenaline (and other chemicals I’m sure) that can send our hearts racing, invoke our fight or flight instincts, etc., all of which can lead to other issues. So glad you and granddaughter are okay. Great lesson here though. I loved your points. Am so grateful too that God gives us the ability, with the Holy Spirit’s help of course, to discern between the good and the bad better as we grow in Him.
As always, my friend, I’m grateful for your wisdom and encouragement. I love this part of your comment: “God gives us the ability, with the Holy Spirit’s help of course, to discern between the good and the bad better as we grow in Him.” Yes! We are so blessed to have His guidance–we just need to remember to keep the connection with our Father always open. Hope you and your sweet bride are doing well. May God bless you all.
Good things in overabundance are bad. Like too much chocolate, good for your heart in small amounts.
I don’t like spiders or snakes in any number. But I do understand the benefits of rodent control.
Wonderful lesson here, Katherine. Thanks and God bless!
I’m a chocolate lover, but as you point out, small amounts are the key. Thank you for your kind encouragement, Nancy. May your day be blessed with joy and sunshine.
There’s a king snake that I frequently spy on our property. Like you, I’m okay as long as I see him first! It was a bit creepy to see him slithering through the potting soil of a large planter in the patio. Now, I’m extra cautious when turning the soil to plant new plants and when removing spent ones.
I’m okay with my one little snake. I’m not okay with too much of a good thing in this case. Lol.
I’m with you, Terri. I try to be extra cautious when planting, weeding, or cleaning up the dead blooms and foliage. I sure don’t want to put my hand on a snake. Wishing you happy and safe gardening.
Oh my. I got the heebie-jeebies just thinking about your snakes and spiders. What a good question, when does something good become something bad? I really appreciate that thought. Thank you for reminding us God’s love is always good!
God is good and loving all the time. We are so blessed. Wishing you peace and joy, my friend. Hope to see you soon.
This is the second message about snakes I’ve read recently. Maybe I need to be on the lookout for them. But your message is spot on, God is always good and never becomes something bad. Thank you Katherine
Yes, I’ve read two other messages about snakes in the past week. It’s that time of year, I guess. I’m so glad you could stop by my blog, Yvonne. Wishing you joy and sunshine!
You’ve given some good lessons here, Katherine. Other than God, I’d say we need everything in moderation. With Him, we can go all in!
You’ve summed up my message in two phrases. Go all in for God and practice moderation in most things. Thank you, Annie. I hope you’re having a great week.
I will be honest, I have never thought of “good” snakes, but I am glad to know they exist. I pray I always stay away from the bad ones.
Me, too, Joanna. I’ve heard a lot of people say, “The only good snake is a dead snake,” but on the farm or ranch, snakes can be beneficial. But I always hope they stay out of sight! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
Katherine, I don’t like snakes of any kind even helpful black snakes. Glad you’re able to relocate the black snakes to fulfill their intended purpose. You’re a brave woman. We’ve been sent into the world with slithering snakes to labor for our Lord. I’ve had a few experiences where snakes of the human kind crossed my path. It caused a fright but God’s work must continue. I’ll remember this analogy. It makes me shutter.
Lisa, I find myself being extra watchful around the farm since my encounter with the snake. It’s a reminder that we always need to be on the alert for temptation and evil. And you are right–the human variety of slithering evil is dangerous and we really need to be watchful. Wishing you peace and joy (and no snakes). Take care.
I cannot do snakes. I often have dreams of them attacking me. I know they serve a purpose but… Too much of just about anything can turn bad. As my husband always says everything in moderation.
Oh, no! I’m sorry that I wrote about something which might lead to nightmares. Your husband is a wise man. I hope this is a good week for you, Jen, with good weather for walking and riding. Wishing you good health and happiness.
I’m with you on snakes, Katherine. In Maine we had no poisonous ones, but they can still give you a scare when they show up unexpectedly as yours did. I too am so glad God is always good, and I pray I will always trust Him as He leads me safely along my path.
I join you in your prayer, Kathy. Thank you for sharing. Wishing you a wonderful Mother’s Day and a week filled with peace ad joy.
I’m brave around snakes when I know they’re nonpoisonous. On a hike last fall with a group from our church, everyone was spooked by a snake and most either squirmed or squealed. I pulled out my phone, moved a little closer, and took a picture of him! But if they catch me unaware like the one you mentioned, I’m squealing and squirming too!
I’m right there with you, LuAnn. I’m brave if I see snakes first and control how close I get, but if they surprise me, I squeal and squirm, too!