Your Birthday?

It was my Birthday yesterday, and even though I had a great day I had to do something very tragic. It has never been my nature to take life from anything. Not even a spider, (and they creep me out) I usually sweep them out the door, but yesterday I made a decision from a mothers point of view. It's easy to make mom decisions for your children, you know; simple things like what clothes they wear, what doctors they see, what school they go to, and what friends they keep. But, yesterday I had to make a life changing decision whether a living thing lives or dies for the safety of my children. I have never encountered such a decision. On Sunday Pastor Scott spoke of this very thing, but his perspective was very different, he wanted to put an animal out of his misery. I killed a snake and it bothers me. Gods creations are wonders of the earth and even though us humans take all of it for granted. Some of us who are conscious are bothered by given the power that is not our own to take life from a living thing. I threw up, cried and even prayed for such an action. I know it sounds emo but for me it was a big deal....... My neighbor identified the snake as a pygmy rattler. All I can remember her saying "you don't want that roaming around with the boys in the yard" and Do you have a shovel? and that was all I needed, to take action... Climbing over the lawn mower and grabbing the shovel and holding the broom that had trapped the snake, while my neighbor did the deed. After it was done we put the snake in a large zip lock to take to animal control to dispose and identify. The kids were inside gleaming with curiosity on the next possible pet. I entered the house and ran to the bathroom as the boys followed and waited for me to stop getting sick, eagerly waiting on an answer; Can we see the snake and hold it?
I explained to them about my regret and how I had to kill the snake for their safety, they were confused. We are animal people I have exposed my children to snakes, lizards,iguanas,rabbits,horses,cows,chickens, ducks, sheep, domestic birds, exotic birds, dogs and cats. We have taught them not to be afraid of any type of animals. So, to my kids they were confused. I pulled out the National Audubon Society guide to Florida and read the pages regarding poisonous snakes. We took a trip to animal control and a field inspector explained to us what to do and how to identify the different species of snakes in our area. The kids left with pamphlets and safety instructions. It was very comforting for them to understand the dangers.

So, When I think my sins are incomparable to what we Christians consider the more serious like: Steal, murder, and Cheat.

F.Y.I . People:
There are no degrees in sin.

God created ALL and I could never bring back what he has created. I can only pray for forgiveness and know that he is a forgiving and merciful God.