Chicken Snakes by Donna Mumma

Chicken Snakes

by Donna Mumma

“In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul”

(Psalm 94:19, KJV).

On my parents’ farm in Florida, we often encountered a common native known as the yellow rat snake or chicken snake. These non-venomous constrictors have a taste for eggs, birds and rodents. They grow to lengths exceeding six feet and exhibit defensive behavior when threatened. Avid climbers, chicken snakes are often found hanging in tree branches, walls, and the tops of door jambs.

Or, in my case, stretched along the curtain rod above the double windows in my parents’ living room. Two different times, snakes squeezed in through a tiny space by the window-unit air conditioner and crawled up the wall.

On both occasions, I crossed paths with them while waiting for my breakfast. I high-tailed it out of there. My mother closed the living room door to trap the snakes until my dad could dispose of them.

Even though these unnerving encounters caused no physical harm, worries over finding another snake plagued me for weeks. I lost sleep, terrified that something might crawl across my floor or onto my bed, ready to attack me. Shivers ran down my spine whenever I entered the living room, and I refused to sit in the chairs by the windows for months. My mind built up many fears, and I spent far too much time searching corners, checking under cushions or furniture for snakes that never materialized.

The writing life can breed worries like my fear of those snakes. We can imagine all sorts of troubles lurking in the publishing world. Anxieties over never getting published, low book sales, bad reviews, rejections, breaking the rules, or somehow not measuring up when compared to other writers plague all of us. Left unchecked, these thoughts can lead to self-doubts strong enough to silence words, squelch creativity, and derail our mission.

As my dad wrangled those sneaky snakes and got them out of our house, God’s promises hold the power to expel negative mindsets when they threaten to overcome us. He knew what we’d face when he called us to this mission. When the fears, heartbreaks, and disappointments come, we can pray and know he won’t abandon us. His comfort stands ready, his words poised to calm our minds and soothe our souls.

Thank you Lord for the light that guides our path and the comfort you bring when the stresses of this writing life can overcome us. Amen

Donna Mumma perfected storytelling in her first grade classroom, spinning tales exciting enough to settle a roomful of antsy six-year-olds. She loves to blend history, mystery, and faith in her novels, which include Fresh Scars, The Women of Wynton’s, and First Comes Marriage . . . Then Comes Murder.  A native Floridian, she now lives on the Sunshine State’s west coast, sharing life with her family, and her energetic collie, Duke. Connect with her at www.donnamumma.me., Facebook at Donna Mumma, or Instagram at donnamumma_writer.