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We have a new family
member, her name is Butterscotch and she is a 3 month old mini lop-eared bunny.
We are not “bunny” type people, we are “dog” people, so it’s been a new
experience all the way around.
My living room décor currently includes a red and white
checkered vinyl table cloth with a small pet playpen, a medium size rabbit cage
among the “human” living room décor. My oldest daughter said “We look like a
farm, Mom!” and after seeing my expression she added “a classy farm though!” It’s
true, we have a hint of farm going on, especially if you notice the random
pieces of Timothy hay seen throughout the downstairs.
Since we aren’t well versed in rabbits I’ve been doing a lot
of reading about them and I catch myself sitting and just watching her. “She
has no idea how safe and loved she truly is” is a thought that came to me as I watched
Butterscotch half sleep, her ears twitching at every noise as if she isn’t sure
she can totally relax into the moment and doze off.
She has no idea.
Rabbits are timid by nature basically because they are prey
to LOTS of animals—and humans. If a noise startles them, off they dart. If you
try to hold them, off they dart. If they feel in any way they are in danger,
off they dart. Butterscotch is not a wild bunny, she’s been held since birth and
to say my daughter spoils her is an understatement. So, there’s part of
Butterscotch that feels secure—she gets very excited when the playpen door is
opened and will come right to you as if to say “hold me” but is probably trying
to say “feed me” (boy rabbits eat a lot!); however, she’s still a rabbit and
she still has a timid nature, although we have never hurt her she has times of
darting from us.
She has no idea.
As Christians we have what we call “knowledge” because we
read the Bible, we banter with others over various meanings, and we have access
to the Holy Spirit. However, when you look at the behavior of most Christians
we are acting as if WE have no idea. We allow God to get close, then we dart.
We go to church, we pray, we do something nice for someone then—life gets
messy, something doesn’t go the way we think it should, our heart gets hurt and
we question God’s love and turn to something that will make us feel good in the
moment. Rabbits dart out of fear, they seek shelter and try to hide when they
feel threatened. Humans dart out of fear, they seek anything that will bring gratification
so the wound is soothed.
If Butterscotch could lay down her rabbit nature, if she
could truly understand how lucky she is to be our rabbit, she would sleep
soundly and she would stop darting. If Christians (me mostly) could lay down our
doubting nature so we could truly understand God’s love and all that entails we
would step boldly and stop darting.
Butterscotch will never know, but we can most certainly know.
One trust moment after another will lead us to deeper understanding so when
something happens that causes us to hurt, we know we don't have to dart or self medicate, but instead we can keep our
feet firmly planted and trust God will show up to be our protector.
Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that
saves me, and my place of safety.”
