Belonging

There is a small rabbit that has been eating off all my mini hollyhocks in the flower bed in the back yard. Nearly every time John waters the tomato plants, high in the elevated planter, the rabbit bounds out of the flower bed and scampers across the lawn.The rabbit makes his rounds in the neighborhood causing one neighbor to threaten it with his bow and arrow. The rabbit chooses only my flowers as his tasty treats, passing on the neighbors' flowers and vegetable garden.

The neighbor with the bow and arrow offered us instead, a live trap to catch the rabbit. It has been sitting empty for several days now with no luck. The rabbit avoids the trap and continues to run around chewing off my flowers, leaving just naked stalks. The rabbit doesn't belong in my flower bed. Unlike the butterflies that do belong on my butterfly bush. (John captured this picture the other day). 

"I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward," (Mark 9:41 NIV). 

Jesus is telling John that those who belong to Christ Jesus will take care of others, not harm them or pass them by. Giving others a cup of water is like giving an offering to God. We belong with Christ. He belongs with us. 

Unlike the rabbit that doesn't belong in our flower bed.

May you feel like you belong today. And show others how much you care, passing on the love of Jesus as you do. That is belonging.