Watching my Grandchildren was
quite an experience for me. I realized how
blessed I was to be doing that. When winter
rolled its angry cold away, we were
always so glad to go outside. On our outings,
we would go for a nature walk…
Our nature walk consisted of collecting different
types of leaves, weeds, rocks,
and anything they associated with nature. We
would take a small bag and put all
the goodies into it so they could glue them on
the poster board at home.
We always made a point of discussing what they found
and what they liked about
it. Not only was this good exercise, it amazed me at
what they would pick up.
On this particular walk, we went to explore the fields
behind our house. We
stirred up rabbits that would run away. The kids loved
that they would giggle
and giggle. Kelsey and Joshua would ask about the
field. They were never short
on questions. They were walking in the back
yard looking for treasures to
share. I checked my flowerbeds that were a
disaster. I heard Kelsey and Joshua
yelling so I quickly went toward them. It was
then that I saw a small green
grass snake in Kelsey’s hands. First off, I
hate snakes. I stopped running and
waited until they reached me. They were so
excited about finding such a big
worm.
I found myself stepping back the closer they came. I
whispered, “O God, help me
with this one.”
Kelsey reached me and started to hand me the snake.
Control, I thought, I must
get control of this situation now… I ignored the small
hands that were reaching
toward me wanting me to take the snake. I looked at
them and said, “My, look
what you two found. Where in the world did you get
him?
Listen you two that is not a worm, it is a snake. We
do not pick up snakes,
they could be dangerous.”
Their eyes got so big and wide. Kelsey was still
trying to give me the snake.
I did not want the snake. I wanted the snake gone.
“Ok, where did you find this snake?
Joshua almost yelled, “In the field Nana. Are you sure
it is not a big worm?”
I looked at the snake again, yes, that would be one
big worm. Taking a deep
breath, I asked them to show me where they picked it
up. “O Lord, please don’t
let there be any more snakes.”
I followed them to the field and they both pointed to
a spot where they found
the worm, I mean snake. I knelt down and said, “Let’s
let the snake go home to
be with his family. He probable really misses them.”
Both Kelsey and Joshua shook their heads. Kelsey said,
“No Nana, we are going
to keep him.”
If I knew one thing, it was they were not going to
keep that snake.
“No, we cannot keep the snake. We need to let him go
home, now.”
Kelsey put the snake down and it slithered into the
field. Both of the kids
looked so disappointed. All I felt was relief.
I took their hands and we walked to the house. I
explained why they should
never pick up a snake. They both seemed to understand
what I was telling them.
I stressed that snakes can be dangerous and we must
not pick them up anytime.
We picked up our bag filled with treasures and went
into the house to glue them
on the poster board. Sometimes ones treasures can be
like a small green grass
snake that needs to stay away from Nana.
Sharon Niese sniese3@roadrunner.com
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