February

During the month of February, possibly because we are in the dead of winter and longing for the spring, some have invented the custom of watching the groundhog emerge from his den and the hope is to predict winter’s end and spring’s beginning. This is done by observing the groundhog’s reaction. If the creature sees his shadow, he becomes afraid and immediately returns to the safety of his den. If not, then he stays out and is unafraid and unaffected.

Reminds me of a story told about a young girl and her father. The family lived next door to a neighbor who had three very large and threatening looking Doberman Pinschers. The father was in the habit of running each morning. When he returned from his run and rounded the corner by the fence, the Dobermans would run along the fence growling and snarling, ready to tear this man apart. The man believed the only thing that was keeping him alive and the dogs at bay was that fence. His daughter was in the habit of walking through the neighbor’s yard and played with neighbor’s little girl; right in the midst of the Dobermans. Her father warned her repeatedly that she better watch out for those big dogs. The girl replied to her father, but daddy those dogs are trained. The father said, I know but watch out they are ferocious. She finally said, daddy those dos are trained only to bite somebody who is running. That is why they never bite me or Gretchen!

Makes you wonder if our fears are like those ferocious Dobermans, trained to bite only those who are running. So instead of running from you fears, face them and find out that they are not enemies at all. They are simply shadows in our path—it’s that simple. Face fears and they fade away. May God grant you the ability to stand and face your fears.

In Christ,

Pastor David

 

         

 

revdnuss@msn.com