What Was I Thinking?

I should have known better.

The way I behaved that long-ago morning surprised me and caught me off guard. Just recuperating from surgery, I picked up the welcome mat outside my door to shake it off. To my surprise, a little snake lay curled up in its place.

Shocked, I began stomping on the creature until I felt sure it was dead. Now with the deed done, I realized what could have happened.

First, I was wearing only slippers with my heel exposed; I could have been bitten, and small and baby snakes can be poisonous.

Second, I could have injured myself because the surgery involved stitches across my stomach. And third, sometimes animals pretend to be dead.

I decided to leave the supposedly dead reptile there so my husband could dispose of it when he returned. My mom warned me all my life that if I saw a snake, to be sure to kill it —even if I saw one in my dreams. But now, despite the warning, I felt faint, realizing I could have been bitten or could have lost my life by acting so foolishly.

The Bible tells us in Genesis 3:15, “He [Eve’s offspring] will crush your [the serpent’s] head, and you will strike his heel” (NIV). Why didn’t I listen to that warning? The snake could have bitten me; instead, there I was crushing it with my heel.

We are living in the time of a global COVID-19 pandemic, political unrest, and racial rioting. Isn’t it time for us to heed the warning signs of our soon-coming King? Lord, help us not to act foolishly and lose sight of what is soon to come upon this earth but prepare ourselves for the blessings in store at the soon return of Jesus.

Lord, please help us use our time to grow closer and build a stronger and lasting relationship with our Lord and Savior.

Then and only then will his (Satan’s) head be crushed.

Bessie Russell Haynes