Back To Home Page To Archives - Spring of Life - H. Roger Bothwell My Groundhog There was a small valley behind my house when I was a boy. In the field that ascended on the opposite side was a wonderful fencerow filled with oaks, maples, birches and sumac. My little dog and I loved to wander along the row scaring up rabbits and chipmunks. One year a big fat old groundhog moved in. He was grand. When we came near he whistled and disappeared into his chambers. He was my neighbor. Late one afternoon I heard a shot and rushing outside I saw a man lying in the field beside my house aiming at my groundhog. Again he shot and I saw dirt kick up beside my brown chubby friend before he dove underground for safety. From that time on I watched diligently and each time I saw the man come with the gun I would run across the little valley to sit at the groundhog's door. Finally the man stopped coming but my groundhog disappeared. I think the man came one day while I was in school. I was not a very good protector. Fortunately we have a protector that never fails. Jesus promises in John 10:28, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." I wish I could tell you that promise meant nothing bad would ever happen to us. It does not. What it does mean is our eternal destiny is sure. As long as we live in a sinful world bad things will happen to good people. However, Jesus cares. I'm Roger Bothwell and my address is roger.bothwell@verizon.net or 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453. Thank you for your support of our faith ministry. Past devotionals can be accessed at Archives