An Act of Mercy

I saved a slithery one the other day...

you know the kind I have had many bad experiences with-

under rocks I innocently pick up.

The type who like to hide out in the shadows so I don't see them, until to my dread and probably theirs, I step on them--in soft soled shoes.

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The kind who like to slither around in the deep grass

and then wiggle just so I will jump backwards

and scream.

The ones I used to have nightmares about as a child--

dreams which involved snakes in the garage and terror.

Yea those slithery creatures.

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But on with the story...

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This unheard of act of compassion took place in our yard

on a day when the grass wasn't too wet

and it wasn't raining, having a thunderstorm or hailing

(so it must have been several weeks ago

when we were having spring--for a day or two).

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I had mowed most of the yard and

had emptied out the grass on the compost pile,

where God had answered prayers for mercy and one didn't crawl out,

when I was most vulnerable.

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Then, as I was nearing the BIG snake zone--

I saw a wierd 'line' in the grass,

and I knew what it was.

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I had a choice.

I could have easily run him over;

logic would dictate one less snake, one less fright.

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But I couldn't do it.

Mercy was BIG here that day.

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Blessings,

Aimee

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Photo:

Bleeding heart 'Alba'