MOSQUITOES

PRACTICE: What is your opinion of the mosquito? Write it down now and don’t hold back.

Last year, the year before and again this year – bees, birds and flowers have been my summer muse. At the top of the list are birds (hummingbirds and cardinals so be specific). Mosquitos have joined the list, which is funny because the people closest to me have a huge aversion to the little “pest.” I think they are here to teach us some lessons about irritants.

FACT- the average mosquito lives about 56 days -many would say 56 too many. In those 56 short days, the buzzing pest uses you/your family and friends and your flowers as their buffet.

FACT – a mosquito is addicted to the carbon dioxide that we exhale and prefers to feast on those with O type blood. ONLY THE FEMALE bites humans, frogs and birds because she needs the components of blood to produce and develop her eggs (we are necessary for the survival of the species). Both male and female eat nectar.

FACT – mosquitoes are the world’s deadliest animal because of they spread deadly disease.

So why are they here? If I could ask the mosquito about its purpose – the answer would probably be to make more mosquitoes. If I asked the bird or frog about the mosquito’s purpose, the answer would probably be “a good snack.” I will not try to guess what some of your responses would be.

Why have I put so much thought into the pesky mosquito? Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Need I say more but I will. Look for the places in your life that are stagnate and what is being produced from that stagnation – does it resemble the mosquito? Moving on! Do you attract people that can suck the life-giving force out of you? Perhaps you might want to apply a layer of insect repellent. Learn to stay away from bloodsucking people if possible.

I am most captivated by the 56-day life span. It seems to me that the little pest lives those days to the maximum. They sleep when they must, but they spent the remainder of their time buzzing here and there with no regard to being eaten, smacked with a hand or repelled by bug spray. They are risk takers. Mosquito theology teaches me…56 days, 56 months, 56 years – whatever the life span – dare to risk so that I can live life purposefully and abundantly.

The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.

Proverbs 20:5

PONDER THIS THOUGHT—Small irritants often teach some huge life lessons.