Lessons From My GardenChikamu

Little Green Snake

Many years ago I planted a length of fence with green beans. The vines grew lush, and the green beans were abundant. With my basket in hand I would walk along the row plucking the beans from the vine, one after the other. One day I plucked a “bean” that was not a bean! It was a little green garden snake! Oh, you should have heard my scream as I tossed that snake over my shoulder! Quickly gathering my harvest, I fled the garden, deep breathing and trying to settle my heart rate. 

I was faced with a dilemma. Green beans need to be harvested daily in the heat of the summer or they grow large and tough. Without constant picking they turn to seed and stop producing. So, I had to talk myself into being a big girl, to be brave enough to go back to pick beans the next day. Surely, that snake would be gone! 

I crept along slowly...carefully peering into the vines...being very aware that the snake might again be there. 

In that moment my Father spoke to me, “No need to be afraid. Just be alert and aware.”  

That little green snake is like our spiritual enemy, satan! 1 Peter 5 tells us he goes around like a roaring lion. His mission is to intimidate, to bring fear and destruction, and his ultimate victory, death to our spirit. He is a liar, an accuser, and a deceiver. But, here’s the thing: satan holds only the power we give him. He is really only a little green snake pretending to be a giant, poisonous cobra taking advantage anytime our guard is down.

So armor up! Put on your gloves! We must be alert to him. We need to slow down and carefully go about our life, aware that he is there. But most of all, we must remember that he holds nothing over us unless we give in to our fears. 

That summer as I picked beans (with gloved hands), occasionally I’d see that little green snake hidden in the vines. I’d take a step back and a deep breath, but then press on doing what I needed to do. Alert. Aware. But unafraid. 

Are your fears holding you back from moving forward? Are you giving the enemy your power? Stand strong and hold firm to your faith!