HOLES IN THE GROUND
Today's reading:  Exodus 21-24

"Suppose someone digs or uncovers a well and fails to cover it, and then an ox or a donkey falls into it.  The owner of the well must pay in full for the dead animal but then gets to keep it."  Exodus 21:33-34 NLT

This month marks four years we've lived on our small farm.  The time has passed quickly and we have amassed more blessings than I would have ever dreamed for having moved to the country.

Case in point:  Upon arriving on our littl piece of land, there were two simple requests made...Isaiah wanted a barn cat and I wanted 5 chickens.

Oh my, has our cup runneth over!

We're now the proud owners of 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 goats, 9 rabbits, 19 guineas, 30 (or so--they're hard to count) chickens, 3 turtles and 2 horses.

Whew!

Maybe that's why today's verse caught my eye.

I do not want anyone elses' animals--dead or alive.

I will cover my wells.  I will refrain from leaving pits uncovered.  I will not willingly dig holes that another's livestock might end up in.

Physically and spiritually.

I must refrain from digging pits of doubt, holes of worry and wells of self-sufficiency.  I cannot afford the time wasted to dig them--or risk a Christian brother or sister falling into one of them, and me 'inheriting' their stuff.

God's Word instructs us on how best to care for ourselves (don't dig the wells) and how to best care for our neighbors--if we'll only listen.