A snake in the Garden of Eden

We named our little vegetable garden the "Garden of Eden"...and everything was peaceful and happy in the garden until late Saturday afternoon...when the snake came.

Our bluebird house is next to the fence of our garden.  We've enjoyed watching the bluebirds build their nest and raise their four babies.    After supper Saturday night Chuck and I went out to the garden to check the box.  I had my camera so I could take an up to the minute picture of the new baby birds for our kids at church to see.  Sometimes during the morning worship service at church I tell the children a story.  This Sunday I was planning to tell the story of our baby bluebirds...Chuck was preaching about the creation story in Genesis...so it would fit right in with his sermon...but things changed.

I put my wooden stool in front of the bluebird house so I could step up to see in...but then I noticed something startling and my heart sank...I could see a snake inside the hole!   I yelled for Chuck and we both scurried around trying to get the snake out.  Chuck finally managed to drive the snake out of the box and kill it.  You could see 4 bulges in the snake where the bluebirds had been eaten.  We felt so sad...those tiny birds had touched our hearts as we watched them grow...we missed them...and felt empathy for the mom and dad bluebird.  It was a somber evening.

I knew I couldn't tell the story of the bluebirds now...I know... it's the circle of life...things happen in nature...but I couldn't tell it...not to the little children...not now.  I asked God why he let the snake eat those little birds...I didn't get an answer.  So, I just had to say, "I don't understand this and a lot of other things, but I trust you with it."  Chuck reminded me of a story in the book, Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul, that our friend, Liz, gave us for Christmas.  It told about some children who planted a garden...I only vaguely remembered reading it.    The book was in his office at church. I didn't really care.   I went to sleep without a story for the children.

Sunday morning I went to church, found the Chicken Soup book and read the story, "The Kids on the Point," by Sheila Stroup.  It's such a touching story...I knew the children would love it.  Here's the story in a nutshell.

A lady named Barbara Longworth moved to a charming but run down neighborhood in New Orleans.  She noticed a boy and a girl tearing up flowers in her neighbor's yard.  After seeing them do this several times she confronted them and asked if they would like to help her plant a garden.  They did.

She had little money but felt that this was important for her to do.  The kids loved Barbara and the gardening.  They told their friends and they wanted gardens, too.  Soon, over 20 kids were gardening.  They formed a club, The Kids on the Point, and took on the beautification of the whole neighborhood. 

The gardening spread from Barbara's yard, down the street spreading friendship and order everywhere they went.  They planted a vegetable garden and shared the produce.  People left gloves and flowers on Barbara's doorstep to help.  The good works of the children was infectious and people quit littering and started taking pride in their neighborhood again.  Lives changed one flower at a time. 

As I told the story Sunday at church, the kids were as still and wide-eyed as I had ever seen them.  It was obvious they were really taking it all in.  I asked them to think about what they could do here to make our town more beautiful and share kindness with others. 

After church, several children told me how much they liked the story.  Then, Katherine looked up at me, smiling, and said, "We can do that!  Even if we just have a few kids at first...we can do it!"  She was waiting for an answer...her enthusiasm was contagious.  I smiled back and told her, "You're right, we can do it!  I think I know a nice lady who might be just the person to start with...she loves flowers, but can't garden like she used to.  Maybe she would like a small flower bed close to her front porch.  I'll call her and see."

On the way home from church, I got to thinking about the bluebirds, the snake and the children's story.  It's strange how life has some curious twists and turns.  If the snake hadn't eaten the bluebirds...I would never have told the children the story about the Kids on the Point...and Katherine and others wouldn't be thinking about planting flowers to help people.

Now, I'm not ready to say that God had the snake eat the baby birds so I would change my children's story for Sunday.  But, maybe... just maybe... when we let him,  God takes bad and sad things in our lives and brings hope and kindness to take its place.  I believe that's what happened Sunday.  I still miss the bluebirds and am sad when I think about the snake getting them.  But when we plant the flowers in our friend's yard next week...I'll think about how good things can come out of bad situations...and be thankful for children who want to make a difference... bringing hope and beauty to our town...one flower at a time. 

All is well.  Thank you, God!