Jewel # 396 (April 1, 2020)

And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up MY JEWELS.

Malachi 3:17

To my dear grandchildren

Weasels Are Cute but Have Bad Tempers

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.  Hebrews 4:13

As springtime comes to North America, thousands of baby weasels are born in underground dens, hollow logs and other hideaways.  Each nest will have from three to ten or more young ones, so tiny that two dozen together would scarcely weigh a pound.

The Creator has arranged their birth in early spring so they can learn to care for themselves during the warm days that follow.  Before they can be independent, they need the care of both parents since it will be about  a month before their eyes open.  During this time, the mother stays close by and nurses them.  Then for another month, both parents bring solid food and begin taking them outside to teach them how to survive.  When they are about four months old, the little weasels are on their own.

There are many varieties of weasels throughout the world, inhabiting forests, meadows and grasslands.  All have beautiful fur, but underneath that fur is a fierce nature, making them a threat to small rodents and birds.  Actually they are a part of a family that includes badgers, otters, ferrets, minks and skunks.

Weasels are always on the go and full of curiosity, bounding over the ground with snarls, hisses and fearsome noises as they search for prey.  Often they squeeze into burrows when their noses tell them there’s a meal down there.  Although they are small enough to hold in a man’s hand they are not afraid of larger creatures, some going after marmots, woodchucks and even rabbits—all much larger than themselves.  One of their worse offences is breaking into chicken coops and killing chickens, which, of course, makes them unpopular with many farmers.

But in spite of these practices, they are a delightful example of God’s creation with their pretty colouring, bright eyes, large ears and black noses.  Because of the quality of their fur, people hunt them, especially in the winter when their fur is thick and luxurious.  Most of them change colour in the different seasons, from a beautiful brown in summer to pure white in winter—a provision of the Creator to camouflage them from their enemies.

Our opening verse reminds us that God is always aware of all His creatures.  We may be sure that if weasels could, they would thank Him for such wonderful care.  But God did not make us like weasels—we can read God’s Word, the Bible, and know His special care over us.  Everyone is happy who can agree with the words of Psalm 33:21: “Our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.”    

Is that trust and happiness yours?

Love you all - Grandpa