I gave myself some GRACE and had pre-prepared older favorite posts to re-publish while I was away for the long weekend – a wonderful opportunity to get with the Lord and rekindle that knowledge of how much He loves us. Now I have a few new writings specifically about camp. But first – I had the processing of the time to bury Christmas the Crab back at the same camp and same path that I found him, with a friend, walking during a break.

Arriving at camp early on a Thursday, I thought what a wonderful pre-day to process the Lord’s blessings in my life and especially appreciate a day off, a weekend at camp, friends old and new, and Jesus Himself showing up to bless us and hold us and hear us. Christmas in April – April 25th, new mercies every morning, and before camp really got underway, this is when I had the opportunity to bury Christmas the Crab, who passed away last week. I knew he, yes you can check hermit crabs for he vs she, was not the same after his last molt. I buried him with love at camp where a friend and I had found him, deep in the woods, chilly October, actually found him twice since we left him the first time (oops).  Now, I have placed him back into the ground for closure, just before this NEW opportunity to be at camp, just before new people came to camp to walk their own walk with Jesus. It has been 7 years since I found him – what amazing timing. I am appreciative of the Lord tasking me with the privilege, the mini cohort to my encouragement to children young and old that INDEED, God takes care of the little creatures so much, look how intricate they are made too, so that then He must REALLY love us.

It’s not like people understand the hoopla or the importance, or even non importance, of a little crab, which is fine. It is between God and me, and a few of us. People understand big God’s moments in their lives as a Shepherd calls a sheep, and little moments too. Why would any of us understand even a fraction of the things that happen in our lives at the Hands of God? So it is OK and good and designed that way that you have your own little and big things going on with God – so don’t worry about others that don’t understand you, Jesus does. Jesus understands. 

This was just a small one little thing (although big for the crab which did not belong in the cold October air in the woods). It was a hair on the head moment of miniscule proportions and yet I could grasp in that very moment that God had and has a plan – and this means that if God pays attention to even the smallest creature, He REALLY IS watching us. 

It’s not me thinking about the crab as much as me thinking about God moving. For the life of me, I will never understand most of the things that God has done in my life, I will count my blessings because God has placed me in this time and in this place. We won’t always understand and appreciate every time and place that God places us in, but we can ask Him… Why would we understand everything? Why would we? God is God and we are NOT God.

I think it’s fitting to have put Christmas the crab back in the ground near where I found him. I knew that the Spirit helped us 7 years ago on this weekend walk with Jesus. He helps us everyday. We are filled anew. This chapter closes and another opens. From dust he came and to dust he will return (and us too and yeah, because we won’t last here forever).  He lived a good even if lonely life, double the average time of hermit crabs. And, I will always wonder: “Why me?” to take care of him – and I always will hear from God: “Why not? Why not you?!”

That’s a God thing to share private moments with God. Remember, most people will NOT understand how the Spirit moves between you and God, but He does, so accept the private conversations and walk. And trust – just trust – that the Spirit DOES move with each person too, in His own way, so why wouldn’t your path also be different? Unique to everyone. God says: “Why NOT you?!”…

I buried Christmas and placed a few sticks as a cross. My friend brought some flowers and I placed a whirlygig, nice colorful pinwheel nearby. My hope is someone else to smile, see the colors, and hopefully feel the Holy Spirit move. May we all feel the JOY of the Holy Spirit.

I have. And I will remember these days as blessed. Decolores little colorful Christmas the crab. Thanks Lord for all in all.

Amen