When I lived in Africa and France, it was a new experience for me to have walls all around the property of all the houses. That’s because where I was raised, most people didn’t have walls or even fences around their properties.
We were on neighborly terms with all our neighbors, and I was taught that when new neighbors move in, you bake them some cookies and take them over or do some other act of kindness to make them feel welcome.
When my husband and I moved into our present home, there was no fence.
It was after I planted a garden and the rabbit population started eating the plants before they had a chance to grow and produce, that we decided to put in a fence.
It doesn’t surround the entire property, just the garden, with a little extra space for a composter, a canopy swing, a chiminea, and a small tool shed, with a little extra room to walk around.
Even though the swing’s canopy is long-gone and my husband had to fashion a seat of cedar boards,π I still love to sit on that swing, in our fenced-in area, whenever the weather is nice!
I love to just sit and swing, soaking up the sun if it’s a little chilly or sitting in the shade when it’s a hot summer morning. I like to listen incognito to the birds chirping, the tree frogs, the crickets, and the cicadas. When those are lacking, I like to hear traffic sounds, the neighbor blowing leaves, a scolding squirrel, or just the quiet peacefulness.
Occasionally, I’ll hear geese honking or ducks quacking as they fly over.
Sometimes I’ll see an airplane barely visible far above, or swallows eating their fill on the wing. One year we even had a bat for a while.
The fence does not make me completely invisible, but it forms a bit of a semi-privacy screen and is far enough from the neighbors that I feel like it’s a peaceful, private place to be still and wonder at the hustle and bustle and beauty of God’s creation.
So, yes, today I am thankful for our fence!
Through it, God gives me the gift of quiet reflection, of tranquility, of listening to the outdoor sounds and to the voice of God through nature and as His Spirit moves in the stillness of my heart.
βBe still, and know that I am God.…βΒ Psalm 46:10a
How about you?Β Do you have a fence or wall that creates privacy from neighbors?Β Or do you have other means of enjoying the outdoors that you’d like to share?
God bless you, friends!Β π
We have a fence but mostly I enjoy the outdoors by taking walks! I love to look at the wildlife!
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Yes, I love hiking! We have to drive somewhere to do that, but I do enjoy it when we get the opportunity!
Speaking of wildlife, a few weeks ago I saw wildlife that I was happy to see from the safety of my car – a cougar standing on the edge of a corn field! Now that’s one guy I really don’t want to meet in person! π
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Me neither! Yikes! π
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Praise God for physical fences and also for the spiritual fences which acts as boundaries to protect us.
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Yes, amen! The LORD is my fortress, I am safe in Him!
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I don’t have a fence, but a fence is great to have!
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Do you have open borders between neighbors, then?
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Yes. Almost everyone is family as well.
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Wow, cool! π
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I am nominating you for Share Your Passion tag in my post Tuesday Nov 12
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Thank you so much! Unfortunately, I don’t think I can get to it right now. I appreciate it, though! God bless! π
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Yes! The back of our property, in the woods, is fenced. And back in the corner is a place that I go to talk with God. I feel that I can really pour out my heart there all alone. I am thankful for that place.
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That sounds cool! It’s so great to have that quiet place to pray in solitude!
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[…] via Day 32 β Thankful for a fence? Huh? π β plantedbylivingwater […]
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