Grumpy the Gator

In Grumpy the Gator, a group of children playing encounter a grumpy alligator. The story teaches children to always keep a safe distance from animals in the wild, and to find an adult if they see an alligator.

Grumpy the Gator

Its Always A Story With The Hendersons

Do I See What I Think I See?

“Quick. Alan, look! What is that strange looking thing? Could it be a dangerous creature?” My voice quivered as I began imagining all the possibilities.

Looking out of the window by our front door, I was shocked to see an unknown “something” sitting in the pine straw by the sidewalk. Quickly, I ran to the kitchen to find binoculars. Racing back to the window, I stared while adjusting the view.

I was too close to the item for binoculars to work properly. No matter how much I adjusted the dials, I could not clearly focus on the unknown “something”.

“Do you think it’s a snake curled up or maybe a different kind of mushroom?” I asked Alan.

Deciding to gather the shovel and some brave thoughts, Alan headed out of the garage door and made his way to the front of the house. Shovel in hand just in case he needed to chase something away or get rid of the thing in another way, he inched up on the light brown “something”.

Taking the shovel and preparing to take a little poke at whatever it was, Alan readied himself for possible interaction. I, of course, stayed inside and stared through the blinds.

Inch by inch, he walked closer, waiting to see what would happen.

A big smile spread across his face as he looked at me staring out of the window.

“Here’s your dangerous creature.” This man has tons of patience and I am thankful for his understanding of my silly thoughts.

Alan poked the “unknown” and it didn’t move. Lifting the light brown item onto the shovel, we both realized the true identity of the thing that had caused me worry.

The wind had blown strong in the morning and a light brown cracker wrapper had ended up in our pine straw.

No dangerous creature. No “unknown”. Just a simple wrapper for some crackers.

We are thankful there was no need for worry and that Alan didn’t have to dispose of anything dangerous. He did reach down, pick up the wrapper and place it in the trash can.

Another day in the life of the Henderson’s. You know our family motto is “It’s Always A Story With The Henderson’s”. I love how God gives us funny situations to laugh about and to share with others.

Have your eyes ever deceived you? Have you thought you saw one thing only to find out there was actually something else in your sights?

Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Him today and every day. God is with us always.

Have a blessed day,
Mimi

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45 Comments
  • Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden
    Posted at 10:02h, 29 July Reply

    I thought I was the only one and I’m scared too! .I’m glad you have Allan to help identify and brave the unknown! I’m so glad God is with us every day, every moment.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 14:24h, 29 July Reply

      Haha! I am watching the alligator across the street this morning. I don’t need my binoculars to know he is really an alligator. πŸ™‚ Yes, I am thankful God is with us every day, every moment. Have a blessed week!

  • Liz
    Posted at 11:32h, 29 July Reply

    A couple of weeks back walking on my regular route to work, I though there was a 10p on the floor. I walked past thinking, I don’t want anyone see me pick up. Then I changed my mind before walking any further forward and turned round. I still thought it was a 10p. It wasn’t. Just a cardboard disc. Lol

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 12:46h, 29 July Reply

      Interesting how our eyes can fool us. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed day!

      • Liz
        Posted at 13:39h, 29 July Reply

        Yes, it is. πŸ™‚

  • Jill Weatherholt
    Posted at 11:55h, 29 July Reply

    Years ago, while vacationing in Hilton Head, my friend and I were enjoying a peaceful canoe ride down the canal. I pointed out an alligator approaching, but my friend said it was a log. I disagreed, knowing it was indeed an alligator. To prove it wasn’t my friend tapped her oar on the “log.” It was definitely an alligator. πŸ™‚

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 12:48h, 29 July Reply

      Yikes!! Alligator!!! We have plenty of gators in our neighborhood. Signs are posted at every pond and there are ponds everywhere. πŸ™‚ I bet your friend was surprised to find the “log” wasn’t a “log”. Have a blessed week!

  • Beth Bingaman
    Posted at 14:16h, 29 July Reply

    This happens all the time! I chalk it up to aging eyes!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 14:17h, 29 July Reply

      Haha! Yes, aging eyes! Also, we see so many interesting creatures here in the Low Country of SC. I never know what might be lurking outside. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed week!

  • Jessica Brodie
    Posted at 15:14h, 29 July Reply

    Haha, my eyes constantly deceive me! I’ve realized I can’t really trust my own perception. My imagination gets very carried away!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:37h, 29 July Reply

      That is what happens to me sometimes. My imagination gets carried away. Maybe it’s because we are writers. haha! Have a blessed week! πŸ™‚

  • Ava Pennington
    Posted at 15:26h, 29 July Reply

    A few years ago, our NY friends visited us in Florida. Walking the beach, we observed crabs scurrying and burying themselves in the sand before we could reach them. Then we spotted a crab in the distance that appeared half buried. We crept up, amazed that it didn’t disappear as we got closer. But the laugh was on us: it was half of a tiny, pink rubber ball resting on the sand! Proof that we often see what we want to see!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:37h, 29 July Reply

      I am laughing out loud! πŸ™‚ A pink rubber ball!! Sounds like something I would do. Have a blessed week! πŸ™‚

  • dscales24
    Posted at 17:13h, 29 July Reply

    I enjoyed this lighthearted story, Melissa. Yes, my eyes have deceived me more than once. Near the end of one summer, after we had stopped using our pool but had not yet “closed” it officially, I looked out the kitchen window and saw on the bottom of the pool, right in the middle, a brown mass that looked like a dead furry animal. I yelled for my husband. (I’m also a blind-peeker while my husband tackles unknown dangers outdoors.) “I think a poor squirrel or chipmunk has drowned in our pool!” I wailed, reaching for Kleenex. My brave hero approached the pool and used the long-handled net to “fish out” the mysterious mass: dried, brown pine needles bunched together on the floor of the pool!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 19:07h, 29 July Reply

      Oh my! You made me laugh! Glad the item wasn’t anything dead in the pool. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed week!

  • Janet from FL
    Posted at 21:33h, 29 July Reply

    Funny! I have binoculars by our backyard windows so we can check out the birds and other animals that wander there. Sometimes it is just a leaf blowing in the wind. Sometimes it’s a Blue Heron. We have lots of lizards of different colors, too. It is all fun to watch!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 23:43h, 29 July Reply

      Yes, lots of fun things to watch. God gives us beautiful creations to enjoy. Have a blessed week!

  • ordinarilyextraordinarymom
    Posted at 00:38h, 30 July Reply

    This makes me chuckle. I have found plenty of rocks and strings around my house that I mistook for bugs and other things and completely overreacted. πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 11:47h, 30 July Reply

      I chuckle, too, when I think of my mistake at what I saw. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed week!

  • Karen Harrison
    Posted at 01:18h, 30 July Reply

    Love your story, Mimi. You’re very blessed to have Alan to come to the rescue! I’m glad Jesus does the same for us. When we’re frightened of something we don’t understand, we can just call on His Name. He is always there to deliver us and comfort us with His presence. Hugs and blessings ❀️xoxo

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 12:26h, 30 July Reply

      Amen. He is always there for us. In the unknown and the known, He is with us. Have a blessed week! Hugs and blessings to you, too. πŸ™‚

  • Lisa Murray
    Posted at 13:49h, 30 July Reply

    Perspective is everything. As someone with horrible eyesight, I completely understand how we misinterpret what we think we see at times. What a great takeaway to keep our eyes focused on the Lord. We can’t go wrong there!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 16:44h, 30 July Reply

      Yes, I pray we all keep our eyes focused on the Lord. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed week!

  • Lynn J Simpson
    Posted at 15:38h, 30 July Reply

    I wonder if something crawled out of that wrapper before your husband picked it up? So maybe there was a critter there after all! You never know! πŸ™‚

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 16:44h, 30 July Reply

      Lynn, I had not thought of that. haha! Have a blessed week! πŸ™‚

  • nancyehead
    Posted at 17:47h, 30 July Reply

    The unknown can be very scary. Sometimes I wonder whether God chuckles at us. Thanks and God bless!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 20:59h, 30 July Reply

      I do believe God has a sense of humor and He laughs with me a lot. Have a blessed week! πŸ™‚

  • Stephen
    Posted at 19:00h, 30 July Reply

    Too Funny thanks Sister as always for your posts, you put a smile on my face while sharing some important tips. God Bless

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 21:00h, 30 July Reply

      Thank you Stephen. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. Have a blessed week! πŸ™‚

  • Candice Brown
    Posted at 20:11h, 30 July Reply

    Fear can cause us to see many things that are not really there. Even if our greatest fears have basis in fact, our Lord is with us as we walk through them.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 21:01h, 30 July Reply

      Amen. God is always with us. When we are near dangerous situations and when we are surrounded by joy, we can be comforted He is always with us. Have a blessed week! πŸ™‚

  • Jeanne Takenaka
    Posted at 01:43h, 31 July Reply

    Oh Melissa, this made me grin. How many times have I looked on some unknown thing and my thoughts slipped into worst-case scenarios. I’ve done that with physical items and with life situations. sometimes, the unknown thing is something simple and not nearly worth the worry I gave it. πŸ™‚

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 18:48h, 31 July Reply

      How true! How true! Sometimes the unknown thing is not worth the worry. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed week!

  • Melissa McLaughlin
    Posted at 14:55h, 31 July Reply

    What a cute story! And yes, this has happened many times to me! May we keep our eyes on Jesus, what a perfect lesson!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 18:49h, 31 July Reply

      Amen. May we keep our eyes on Jesus. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed week!

  • karentfriday
    Posted at 17:46h, 31 July Reply

    Funny story, Melissa. I’ve done the same thing. Things are not always as they appear, especially from a distance. Glad this was a sigh of relief in the end.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 18:50h, 31 July Reply

      You are correct. Things are not always as they appear. πŸ™‚ I pray I keep my thoughts focused on Him. Have a blessed week!

  • Yvonne
    Posted at 13:11h, 01 August Reply

    Thank you for the beautiful way you weave a story and leave us with a smile. I really appreciate you sharing your life with us.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 13:41h, 01 August Reply

      Your words truly have made me smile this morning. Thank you so much for your encouragement. Have a blessed week! πŸ™‚

  • Invisibly Me
    Posted at 15:24h, 01 August Reply

    Being terrorised by crackers wrappers, but I wouldn’t have been brave enough to find that out in the first place, I would have made a run for it πŸ˜‚ I think these sorts of stories are great, they weave into the fabric of our lives, making life so much brighter & more memorable.xx

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 16:10h, 01 August Reply

      Thank you for reading and commenting. I did stay inside and look out of the window while hubby tackled the unknown object. I am so glad it was just the wrapper. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed week!

  • Melinda Viergever Inman
    Posted at 19:26h, 02 August Reply

    Thanks for sharing your story. I’ve had a similar one, but the dark shape of what looked like a watching man turned out to be a broken tree stump. Our minds concoct fearβ€”we do this spiritually as well.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 22:49h, 02 August Reply

      We must be alert at all times. God is with us and He is our guide and protector. Yes, our minds can concoct all kinds of stories, especially when we are writers. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed weekend!

  • Barbara Harper
    Posted at 20:26h, 06 August Reply

    Funny! How often we fear what we imagine, which in reality is no cause for fear. Once I saw a black line on a window frame that I told my husband was a spider’s leg. He didn’t think so–until he poked at it, and the rest of this humongous spider poked its head out! Thankfully my husband understands that killing bugs is wrapped up in his vow to love, honor, and cherish, so he took care of it for me. πŸ™‚

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:06h, 07 August Reply

      Spiders are scary! Yes, there are times our eyes don’t allow us to view the real thing. Glad your husband helped. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed day!

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