As I walked into my kitchen in search of my first cup of coffee, I knew something unpleasant was up!  My cat, Putty Tat, an 18- pound Maine Coon with a history of hunting and bringing unwanted critters into my house, was hunkered down and  staring at something on the floor in front of him.  Immediately I feared the worst–he had somehow brought me a Mother’s Day present that I would not want.  Despite trying to keep a vigilant eye on him as he comes and goes outside, I sometimes fail and he manages to slip things past me or hide them on the porch until I’m not looking.

I was not prepared, though, for this “gift”—an 18-inch copperhead snake that lay at the edge of my counter coiled up and ready to strike my annoying cat!

Jumping back, I headed to the basement for a shovel.  On my way, I awoke Jeff, my sleeping son who was visiting with me for Mother’s Day, yelling as I ran past his room for him to come quickly—that I had a snake in my kitchen.

I grabbed the shovel and headed back up to the war zone, arriving before my sleepy son could make it up the steps.

I never thought I had it in me, but I slammed that snake, spraying blood across my freshly mopped floor while thinking to myself, “You won’t be getting between me and my coffee again!”

A temporary moment of fear turned into laughter as I earned a new nickname—Shirley the Slammer.  Both Jeff and I were amazed that I could kill anything—but I did.

On a serious note though, that snake reminds me of how easily the first known serpent—Satan—weaseled his way into Eve’s life.  He was in the way of her breakfast then as well.  Too bad she didn’t slam him—instead of stopping to chat.  The Scriptures tell us to “flee evil.”  Too bad she didn’t run as fast as she could!

Too bad we today don’t recognize evil creeping into our lives.  We have no problem identifying a real snake coiled up about to strike us—but we frequently can’t recognize the Serpent in our paths when he comes calling, offering us some “forbidden fruit” or wanting to move in with us!  Sadly, though, that “visit” can turn into an eternity in hell with other “snakes” just like him!

The Scriptures really don’t tell us to slam him.  Rather they tell us to use our one defensive weapon—the one Jesus used when tempted in the wilderness–the Word of God.  (Matthew 4:1-11) (Ephesians 6:11-17)

I pray I have the wisdom the next time I’m approached by the Evil One to slam him with the Scriptures rather than stop and chat like Mother Eve.  Like our Savior when he was tempted, it is better to hit him where it hurts:

“Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”  (Matthew 4:10 KJV)

Or, if you like a modern translation:

“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” (Matthew 4:10 NLT)

Hope your Mother’s Day present was better than mine!

p.s.  Thank goodness my children know how to give better gifts than the cat!  My family is awesome!

Thanks to all of you who have taken time to write responses.  Your comments are always welcome!