My friend Kim recently posted pictures of a little family of groundhogs
that had taken up residence in her yard. Like me, Kim simply enjoyed watching the
groundhogs—their little leathery paws twirling apples, their lumbering gait as
they explore the yard, and their perfect posture while standing on their hind
legs to check for predators.
Despite being unpopular with farmers, ranchers, and gardeners,
groundhogs do have purpose. According to offthegridnews.com, groundhogs break down
hard-packed ground, allowing more air and water to get underground, forming
valuable topsoil. Also, groundhogs are considered very clean animals among burrowing
rodents. Within their burrows, each groundhog has their own “bathroom”. When
groundhogs move to new digs, foxes and skunks take over their abandoned dens.
These animals catch and eat millions of destructive small rodents and insects.
Anyone living near areas prone to flooding receives benefits from groundhogs
as rainwater infiltrates their ground level holes. This helps carry the water
into the soil where it can seep in and be stored instead of simply running over
and off the land, often carrying vital nutrients with it.
However, some groundhogs have been captured and pressed into service as untrustworthy
weather prognosticators. Punxsutawney Phil, Buckeye Chuck, Thistle the
Whistlepig, and others will never enjoy the life God intended for a
groundhog—running free, frolicking with other groundhogs, aerating the ground, hibernating
on his/her own schedule.
Groundhogs remind me that God created us with a purpose. Ephesians 2:10
says, “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Are we living the life God intended for us? Or are we allowing others to
fence us in with their expectations? I count it a privilege to have been called
to be the wife of a man God has so clearly called to pastoral ministry. I truly
love this life. But there have been times when others have made me feel
obligated to become someone or attempt something God has clearly not gifted me for.
Thankfully, with God’s leading and Dick’s support, I have been able to just be who
God created me to be.
None of us will ever be happy or free until we allow our Creator to work
out His plan for our lives. Romans 12:2 stresses that we are not to try to mold
ourselves to what this world dictates. Instead we are to let God transform us by
changing the way we think. Then we will know how good and pleasing and perfect
His will really is.
Be encouraged!
©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com
