Raspberries, Thorns, and Mosquito Bites

I had this place in the flower bed that wraps around from the front of the house by the front porch to the side of the house where I couldn't get anything to grow. It is in the corner of a brick wall of the house and the porch. I tried roses and other heat and sun loving plants but nothing. weed didn't even grow there. So last summer I saw raspberry bushes on sale at the end of the session so I bought one. It actually produced a few raspberries last year. The instructions said to cut the branches that had fruit at the end of the season. This is literally all I have ever done for this plant. I haven't even watered it this summer. And it has grown like magic. So tonight this what I got.

So here is what I learned tonight. Raspberries have throns. But you can see them and they really don't hurt that much. They really don't make it that much harder to pick raspberries. We have thorns in our life, but we can usually see them. At least we know they are there are we can prepare ourself for them. So tonight I didn't get hurt by thorns when I picked my raspberries. But what I did get was Mosquito bites. I didn't see the bugs who bite me and I didn't know it was happening when it did. I only felt the itch and sting when I went inside. Lord help me to think about things that I don't see that can sneak in and cause damage. Help me to remember to protect myself like I should have with a little bug spray. Help me to use your word to deal with the thorns and bugs in my life.

Oh Yes! Thank you for all the gifts you give, like raspberries, that make life a little sweeter.