The crocuses and the hedgehog

First I want to see this word tempt used in two different contexts by Jesus:

Jesus speaks to Satan: ” It is written again, ‘ You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’

Matthew 4:7

Jesus did not throw Himself down from the top of the temple as Satan had asked Him to do.

Jesus was quoting from the Old Testament Deuteronomy 6:16. The verses around this verse are strong.

Here ‘tempt’ is a command against testing God’s faithfulness due to unbelief. Faith does not make God do dramatic selfish miracles to prove His care.

Then Jesus uses the word again when teaching us how to pray.

‘ Lead us not into temptation ( the noun) but deliver us from evil.’

Matthew 6:13

Lets not test God selfishly but make this plea for God to guide us away from situations where our faith might fail asking Him for strength to withstand tests.

Now a photograph makes a story.

I was looking at one of the three crocuses that had come from corms in the grass and was annoyed by the saucer and there only being three this year. There haven’t been as many crocuses as before, their leaves not left to feed the corms but cut with the grass. The saucer then brought back a memory.

About thirteen years ago a hedgehog walked across the lawn in the middle of the day. I was shocked that this nocturnal animal should be out and put a selection of little bits from some dog food in a saucer. The little animal ate it all. I then regularly left some out each night but as time went on I didn’t hence the saucer left but upside down.

It was during this time that one night when sleep would not come I went and sat by the pond. It was a very warm night and a good time to sit and think but that was not to be. Three hedgehogs walked passed, two adults and a little one so close that I imagined they touched my toes.

Yes, the thinking didn’t get done and the saucer has stayed by the tree, there is no need to move it and those hedgehogs, well it is said they live from eight to ten years, just maybe we will see some again but we travel…

A garden and the road…

Here are some quotes about hedgehogs:

‘ The fox has many tricks. The hedgehog has but one. But that is the best of all.’

Ralph W Emerson

And

‘ Some people think they have to look like a hedgehog to be pious.’

Billy Sunday

Take care,

Sandy 🙂

The crocuses never opened at all after the one sunny day. Here the three are with the saucer under grey skies.