The Bunny Rabbit

Proverbs 31:31: Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Mama had a tough job with the raising of three boys at 105 S Cook Street. She wasn't alone as Daddy had a huge hand in our raising, but Mama was particularly crafty and had her hands full with Matthew, my younger brother. I've long wondered where she got her inspiration for her style....she had an incredible ability to handle bad situations with grace and ease. One day, while Mama had one of her friends over for coffee Matt was being particularly incorrigible and wouldn't leave her alone. Instead of snapping and shouting she eased up from the kitchen table, excusing herself temporarily from her guest and fetched two items.....a piece of cotton twine and a carrot. She sat back down at the table and with the aroma of coffee heavy in the air of the kitchen proceeded to tell Matt the wildest tale. "Matt, honey, do you remember when I was out in the backyard yesterday, hanging clothes on the line?" Matt looked at her with his three year old eyes and said "Yes ma'am." Mama started placing the bait: "Well, while I was out there I saw a big old bunny rabbit hop out of the bushes and sit up on his hind legs. His nose was going ninety miles an hour, sniffing the air!" Matt became still as a statue, ears perked at the mention of the rabbit. Mama continued "Now I have never told you but when I was a little girl I caught myself many rabbits and made pets out of them. They make such good pets, they are soft and cuddly, and will sit in your lap for hours wiggling their nose at you and begging for carrots. Did you know bunny rabbits love carrots?" Matt, quiet as a mouse and wide-eyed with wonder softly responded "No ma'am", and she continued" "Oh yes, honey! Bunny rabbits love carrots, and I discovered a great way to catch them! I would tie a carrot to a piece of string and sit in the bushes with the carrot a few feet away from me and hold on to the string. After a while a bunny would smell that carrot and come hopping over with his little nose twitching right off his face! His little whiskers would be a blur as he sniffed that carrot. I would let him nibble that carrot, and then slowly, slowly and carefully start pulling the carrot closer to me. Slowly, carefully I would pull the string between nibbles and Mister bun-bun would follow along until he was close enough for me to grab. I'll betcha that I must have caught at least twenty five bunny rabbits in one afternoon that way!" By this time Matt was wild-eyed and you could see the gears were turning in his cottontopped head. She instructed Matt to tie the carrot to the string and sit quietly in the bushes to wait for Mister bun-bun to come along. Did I mention bunnies love carrots? Anyway, with the bait set for setting the bait, Matt dashed out the back door, deposited himself in the thicket of bushes and commenced the hunt for the great bunny rabbit of the backyard. It was getting dark outside and supper was on the table when Mama finally had to go out and inform Matt that Mister Bunny had gone to bed, and he could continue the hunt tomorrow. Matt excitedly offered up the carrot to dear old Mom and said "I almost caught three, Mama! See where they nibbled on it? I got them close, but they hopped away at the last minute. I'll be sure to be quicker tomorrow!" I'm a little biased because she was OUR Mama, but that woman was a miracle, a real fine example of God's work. How can mere dust and clay be so awesome? I'm learning every day that it is because of love. Happy belated birthday Mama, you would have been 82 this past Sunday. We celebrated by joining the church with you sitting right there with us. I know you were there because it was a rice day!