A Real-Life Proverb

A Rabbit Can Climb a Tree, Seriously

When I heard her voice, it was like opening a precious gift, of memories both bright and bitter. She called to say she was watching The Case for Christ, when she opening up my humble blog on the same subject.

Our friendship grew from Thursday Morning Bible Study at Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas. I knew when we met I was meeting a mighty warrior, wrapped in vulnerability; a woman whose spirit was mightier than her body.

When Ann and I met in Dallas, it was as if God reconnected me through her fight to a friend in Maryland who also lived in a similar battle, Barbara Black. Barbara was a powerful teacher; she modeled what grace under pressure looks like. Ann’s life has had some powerful lessons, too.

Ann Arnold lives, fighting the inescapable monster MS, as do her husband and children who love and care for her. For Ann is wholly dependent on others.

Their determination is a strong encouragement and an equally strong admonishment to me. They each and all show me what my mother-in-law so often said:

A rabbit can climb a tree if it has to.

What a picture that proverb creates – what a prod!

If I am having a rough time, look for that tree, head for it and start climbing!

Here are three handy rungs:

Rock bottom is good solid ground, and a dead end street is just a place to turn around. ~Buddy Buie & J.R. Cobb, “Rock Bottom” ♫*

A bend in the road is not the end of the road… unless you fail to make the turn. ~Author Unknown*

If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire—then you got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience. Life is inconvenient. Life is lumpy. Learn to separate the inconveniences from the real problems. You will live longer. ~Sigmund Wollman, quoted by Robert Fulghum, Uh-Oh, 1991*

Today may have started badly, perhaps changing my attitude will change its ending. Readjusting my attitude to gratitude may just make me useful to someone else beside myself today.

*Quotegarden ~Adversity