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Groundhog Day

So last night I am tossing and turning with another wonderful bout of insomnia. One of the many things pinballin' around in my head is that I needed to print out a quick lesson plan for Groundhog Day for today and work it into our homeschooling schedule.

Then I thought about how funny it really is that we have such a "holiday" (yes, Wikipedia calls it a holiday). What is even more funny to me is not only the massive celebration held in Punxsutawney, PA in honor of this little rodent, Puxnsutawney Phil.....(or is Phil a mammal?) but there are travel agencies who will plan your whole trip to Gobbler's Knob for the festivities. I mean we are talking thousands and thousands of people waking up at some horrific hour to watch a bunch of men dressed up in historical clothing to shove this furry critter through some fake burrow. And as you know.....if Phil sees his shadow, legend has it that we can expect six more weeks of winter weather. No shadow indicates an early spring.

Think about shadows for a minute......shadows are often used in a negative sense, such as creepy shadows in a spooky setting. Usually you see the shadow of the ax murderer right before he leaps around the corner. There was an old time mystery radio show in the 30s (No! I was not born yet.....) where the eerie narrator's opening line was.... "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"

Even in the Bible, the shadow is referred to a dark place/state of being....Job says "...before I go to the place of no return, to the land of gloom and deep shadow...(Job 10:21). David, along with Isaiah, Luke and Matthew talk of the shadow of death.

The shadow can also represent a dark past.....something that follows you around and can haunt you. And as you know.....you can not outrun your shadow. (Remember trying to do that as a kid?). Sometimes you can walk around in life and not acknowledge that it is there. But if someone or something causes you to look back due to fear, worry or guilt.......you see it is still there. The enemy is hanging around there too.....in fact, he is usually the one who reminds you of your past sin and all the junk back there. He enjoys it when you turn around and become filled with guilt, shame and sadness. It's kinda like that groundhog.....he sees (fears) his shadow and returns back to the world of darkness.

The Good News is that when we accept Jesus into our heart....He is *in* us. So when we keep our eyes/attention forward to God, His great Light casts a shadow on Jesus (because He dwells within us)......and there is no junk in that shadow. Accepting Him as our Savior washes away our sin.....there is no trail left behind. His Blood.....that of an innocent Lamb......was shed on the Cross to cleanse us and set us free.

How awesome is that?

I pray today you remember that God wants us live a joyful life......free from any creepy shadows that try to lurk back into our life. He does not want us to stay in hibernation mode, living in fear or feeling captive by guilt. No, He has great plans for us.....but we need to pop our heads up, face the beautiful day and get His work done!

(*insert pep rally cheers here*.....Hey, if a little critter can get a crowd of thousands going.....I hope this Good News can!)


So if you are reading this, I am assuming you are not amidst the festivities of Puxnsutawney (have you figured out how to pronounce it yet? I haven't). But don't despair my friends, you can always head on over to one of the many souvenir shops online and grab yourself a keepsake. Seeing as though we probably have at least six more weeks of this brutal winter weather.....I think I am gonna grab a pair of these.

Oh, and lastly......I have two more things to add as I wrap things up.

I was just informed by my kids......Puxnsutawney Phil *HAS* seen his shadow......so six more weeks of winter it is....

......and Phil is a rodent, which *is* a mammal.

xox
*~Michelle~*

28 comments:

Bill (cycleguy) said...

My grandson & I played a game yesterday and he wanted to make sure he didn't step on my shadow. :) I'm glad since I didn't want to be dead. Good post Michelle.

Christy said...

I'm not sure how exactly I found you, but am glad I did. Great post today.

Joyce said...

Well I think you figured out how to incorporate the 'holiday' into a lesson. Very well done!

Anonymous said...

I must have a pair of those slippers! Would it be winter for my feet whenever I wear them... would they cast shadows? I really need that lesson you're putting together...

Thanks, Michelle. ;)

Kristina P. said...

You always use the greatest analogies.

And I hate that stupid groundhog!

Kathy C. said...

Michelle, I'm so glad you cleared up that rodent/mammal thing, LOLOL :)
Great post my friend, and no, I haven't a clue how to pronouce puxa.....??? :)

Heidi said...

Whew! I am glad you penned that last line "Phil is a rodent, which is a mammal." Had you not, I would have had to send you a few more lesson plans to go along with your one today on Groundhog Day. *wink* Honestly, I think you should get one of those groundhogs, keep it in the barn with the goats and begin a new tradition right in your hometown. It would be a very homeschooly thing to do.

My homeschooling days are coming to a close, can you believe that!? It actually does end.

Only 6 more weeks of winter! Yeah! It'll go fast...

~*Michelle*~ said...

"Honestly, I think you should get one of those groundhogs, keep it in the barn with the goats and begin a new tradition right in your hometown. It would be a very homeschooly thing to do."

I think, 2Thinks, you are on to something very cool and interesting with this idea! Let me pass it by Josh. LOL

Heart2Heart said...

Michelle,

I completely forgot it was Groundhog day today! WOO HOO! Love all those festivities and would definitely be knee deep in it all if I were in Pennsylvania! Love the movie it's one of my classic favs!

I love this post and how you relate seeing shadows and Jesus being our saving grace and light! No more shadows with Him!

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

Sweetie? Ya know I love ya? But did YOU HAVE TO MENTION AN AX MURDERER!!!?!?!?!

Shark Bait said...

Ah. It's Groundhog Day today? This explains all the pictures of over-stuffed hamsters I'm seeing in the blogosphere today.

Denise said...

Fantastic post.

Beth E. said...

If you think about it, we're gonna have six more weeks of Winter anyway, even when the rodent doesn't see his shadow. Six weeks from now puts us within a coupla days of the official date of Spring! lol

Tracy said...

I'm grateful that the shadows of my past don't have to haunt me because of the greatness of God's forgiveness through Jesus!

Oh and BTW - love the slippers!

katdish said...

Wow, Michelle. That was quite the rabbit trail there!

And I really loved your analogy.

And the fact that your kids knew a rodent was a mammal. Snort!

Shark Bait said...

Is that what they call Homeschooling?

John Cowart said...

My wife and I love to watch the video "Groundhog Day". It's a hoot.

Although a Christian, I know more about seeing my own shadow than I want to know.

Question: Are groundhogs eatable?

~*Michelle*~ said...

Katdish.....all I can say is have pity on me. All that gets dabbed down here on my blog is a fraction of the chaos in my head.

SB, it's kinda scary that I am responsible for my childrens' education isn't it?

~*Michelle*~ said...

John....

not sure about that....although I am sure we could Google it and find there are some seasoned road-kill experts that have some pretty mean crockpot recipes. (you know...to help the meat fall off the bone)

*shudder*

Together We Save said...

Ohh I hope the ground hog is wrong!! I am ready for spring.

I don't like shadows!!

christy rose said...

Great post Michelle! I love the analogy!

Alicia The Snowflake said...

Leave it to John to ask if it's edible!

Great lesson my friend! I am so glad we don't have to worry about our shadow haunting us. Thank you, Jesus!

Oh and thank you, Michelle, for clearing up the whole rodent/mammal thing. I'm not sure I could have slept tonight w/out knowing ;)

Take care my friend!

~*Michelle*~ said...

No problem Alicia...anytime! :)


I emailed this response to John regarding if groundhogs were edible....

not sure about that....although I am sure we could Google it and find there are some seasoned road-kill experts that have some pretty mean crockpot recipes. (you know...to help the meat fall off the bone)

*shudder*

jasonS said...

Yep, life is full of shadows, but there is life in the light of Jesus. Thanks Michelle- (and thanks for entering the book giveaway on my blog too!) :)

Deborah Ann said...

What a fun post! I loved the Ground Hog Day movie. But even though the festivities look like fun, what's the fun of knowing winter will carry on and on and on, and we all know it will...

Anonymous said...

Yes...great post, as always m'dear!

Kim said...

Again...you are wonderful!

wife.mom.nurse said...

you are so funny :)

As always...enjoyed you post my friend :)

 

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