Meet Harold

I would like to introduce you to Harold. We moved into our house in 2006, and quickly realized Harold was part of the deal. His home is under our deck.

*****

Each evening, at dusk, you can see Harold waddling along between houses to find his home. He slips between the bars of our fence and onto our deck to eat whatever is left of our dog, Trudy's, food. Sometimes we can actually hear him from inside the house slurping up Trudy's water (typical male--ha! ha!). After standing on his hind legs and licking his paws clean, Harold makes his way down the steps and through a small opening under our deck. He hides there until morning.

*****

The kids and I have grown to love Harold. I know it sounds crazy, but we really do. Chappy continually warns us that he could have a number of diseases and could bite us if he feels provoked, but just look at his face. Are those eyes the eyes of a vicious attacker? I think not. Over the years the kids and I have successfully managed to keep Chappy from borrowing a "possum trap" and taking Harold from his only home. (smile)

*****

Harold's life should be coming to a close soon. The Oppossum usually lives only 3-4 years. We'll miss him.

*****

When I watch Harold and his nightly routine, especially enjoying when he takes care to lick his paws clean, I often wonder what God was thinking when He decided to create the Oppossum. Did you know the Oppossum is actually a wonderful little garbage disposal? He will eat all kinds of bugs and rodents that could potentially be very harmful to our family....sometimes eating snakes too. Harold is a one-man clean up crew!!!

*****

Oppossums aren't aggressive, but I will admit, Harold has startled us on more than a few occasions. One evening, for instance, Chappy opened the back door to let Trudy out for a potty break and forgot about Harold. Trudy's food dish had been left right outside the door, so when the door swung open, Chappy's eyes met Harold's eyes which were less than 18 inches from where Chappy was standing. You guessed it.....Chappy jumped in the air and let out a scream scaring poor Harold away. I am still not certain who was scared more. Literally, the kids and I rolled on the floor with laughter for many many minutes (Chappy still doesn't think it is too funny. That evening the kids and I had to do a LOT of pleading, because big daddy was determined to go get a possum trap the very next day!)

*****

You know, as believers, we are very much like Harold. We have been created for a specific purpose just as he was......our time on earth is limited.....and we are strangers trying to make this land our home. Harold has decided to make the dark hole beneath our deck his home while a forest kingdom could be his; in the same way, believers attempt to make this dark earth our home while the Kingdom of God, called glorious heaven, is close at hand. Predictably, we waddle through life in our routine rarely giving thought to our great purpose. We hope to be accepted and cared for all the days of our life, but we remain on guard just in case the acceptance doesn't come. When afraid, we run for cover too. And like Harold, someone greater than us is making sure our needs are being met each and every day.....that Someone is too often overlooked or not noticed.

*****

Life is ironic. Our Father can be seen and known in most every circumstance of life if we only open our hearts to see. While the earth continually changes, some things remain the same. That's Wonderful God.

*****

"Instead, they were longing for a better country----a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:16