'THANK YOU, LORD!'

There's an old sayin'.... "God watches over children and fools". And, I'm way past childhood, so I reckon that just leaves the other category for me. With that said, "Thank you, Lord, for takin' care of this ol' boy.... for the umpteenth time!"

I had accumulated a number of logs what needed disposin' of, none of which were fit to even make firewood for an outdoor fire-pit, let alone to mill decent lumber out of. So, yesterday, I decided it was time to clear 'em out of the 'Log Yard'. Using my old tractor & boom pole, I'd put the hooks to the end of a log, lift it off the ground maybe a foot, and away I'd go, dragging it way out across the middle pasture to the 4'-deep 12'-wide by 30'-long dozer-dug trench, leftover from when the pastures were cleared 34-years earlier, that we use to burn downed limbs, trees, and other wood debris from around the farm in. Pull up near, but not too close to the edge of the trench, get off the tractor, knock loose the log tongs, then climb back on the tractor, and use it's front tires to push/roll the log on over the edge.

        About four logs in, yesterday, though, I unknowingly got one log a bit too close to the edge of the trench. I climbed off the 8N and was unhooking the tongs from the log, when it shifted slightly and rolled on top of my right foot. Now, Ol’ Dead Legs here didn’t realize what had just happened; seein' how I can’t feel from my knees down, thanks to my Neuropathy. When them hooks fully come loose, the far-end of that big ol' log rolled right off the embankment, with the butt-end of that tree trunk on my foot & rolling up my leg, pushing it down and sideways. I grabbed a hold of the boom pole on the tractor and hung on to keep from goin' down & havin' it crush me. Now, friend, that there log was a big 'un. Bein' 24-inches in diameter and 10-feet long, she weighed between 1,200 and 1,300 pounds.

I couldn’t get out from under it. I couldn’t roll it back up the embankment off'n me (Trust me, I tried twice and couldn't budge it an inch.) I didn’t dare let go of that boom pole, 'fraid I'd fall, and I just knew my leg & knee would be crushed, for certain.

  Now, I ain't never been one to panic, and I didn't panic, yesterday, neither. However, I was sure 'nough scared. As quick as I could, I buried one hook of the tongs in the top of the log, in hopes of keepin' it from rolling any further.

Luckily, my cell phone was in my back pocket. However, punchin' in the code to unlock the screen with my left thumb proved to be a frustratin' challenge. Again.... Neuropathy. Finally, I was able to call my Daddy. I about scared him to death tellin' him I needed help, that I was pinned under a log. He was on his way, he said!

        Now, we don't live far from one another. He lives at the front of the farm, and I live on towards the back. Before he could get there, though, I got real scared; scared that I could feel my leg already givin' way under the weight of that log. And, I knew exactly what would happen to me if it finished rollin' over the edge of that embankment.... so, I moved that log. I can't tell you how I did it. I honestly don't know how. I actually don't even remember doin' it, but I moved that 1,200-pound plus log off of me; off-balanced, in a bind, and with only one free hand. As soon as  I got clear and let go, she rolled back over the edge and jerked the tractor around sideways before the hook pulled free.

The very first thing I did was to look up to the Heavens and thank Him for takin' care of me. And, however short a prayer as it may've been, never was there a more solemn or heart-felt one ever offered up. I don't pray fancy, but I do pray often.

I next called Momma to have her tell Daddy that all was good, I had gotten free. It was only then that I looked down to see my leg below the knee covered.... in ants. My foot had been pinned smack dab in the middle of a fire ant hill! 🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜 

Hey! I said He protected me. You didn't think I was about to get off unchastised, though, did you? And, chastised I most certainly was! "Do dumb things, win dumb prizes." I like to've never got all them fire ants off of me. But then, what're fire ant bites when compared to how it could've turned out?

Again.... "Thank you, Lord, for takin' care of this ol' boy!" I am truly blessed.