One of the things I love about our new home in Tennessee is that we have wild bunnies that come visit us every day. We see them hopping about, doing bunny things. Mostly at night, but we’ve started seeing them more during the day now, too. Cute little cotton-tailed bunnies of all sizes and colors.
I know, I know. Many people think they are pests, but all I see are fuzzy little balls of fur with big, sweet eyes and long, silky ears. Seriously, so cute!
Derek and I walked out on the back deck today, and one of the bunnies was sitting next to the gate at the back fence. As soon as he saw us, he jumped up and popped behind the garden shed. We believe they have a den underneath the shed, so he was sticking close to home, to see if there was any threat. A couple of minutes later, he hopped back out and went to lie in the sun next to the gate again. I guess he realized that we were no threat, after all.
After watching his little escapade, I told Derek, “He’s sticking close to his house. I don’t blame him. I feel like that most days.”
You see, bunnies are naturally timid. They stick close to their dens, unless they feel safe enough and brave enough to go out and do what they need to do. Whether that is look for water, forage for food, or like our little bunny today, just find a nice patch of sun to lie in and soak up the warmth.
Most days, I am very much like the bunnies. As an introvert, I feel most comfortable at home, where I feel safe from the world. I’ve always felt timid, especially around people I don’t know. It was always chalked up to me being “shy”, but I came to realize many years later that it is not that I am particularly shy – I actually love people! – instead, I am an introvert. As such, it is harder for me to feel confident around people that I don’t know, even with family members that I haven’t seen in a very long time. Strange, I know.
On top of that, due to some medical issues, I have been just like our bunny friend for the past 10 years or so. It was hard for me to even consider being far from the house. If I had to go somewhere, it was a task! Driving across the country was beyond scary for me, and it sent my anxiety levels through the roof. I have grown weary of it, so I have been taking some real steps into getting my body healthy so that I don’t have to live this way anymore. I want to get out and enjoy life!
As someone who is working on changing many things in my life right now, I feel like I need start breaking out of my little bunny shell a bit more as well. I need to start reaching out to people more. Cultivating the new friendships I have made. Enriching the friendships and relationships I currently have. Overall, just learning not to be so timid.
The Bible teaches us in 2 Timothy 1:7:
“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”
Other versions list the word “discipline” as “self-control.” Whichever way you look at it, the Lord has given us a spirit of strength and love, which means we do not have to be afraid.
We are reminded again in Phillipians 4:6:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
All of this to say, my fellow bunny friends, is that God is with us. He has us in the palm of His hand. We don’t have to be afraid.
Until next time,
(Photo by: Jason Leung on Unsplash)
