Our garden has many trees
of all shapes and sizes.
But they all have in common –
leaves!

During autumn and winter
our garden fills with leaves
and we empty garden sack
after garden sack
into our brown bin.

After that
an important job remains –
rescuing the waifs and strays.
You see,
when we gather up the leaves
we inadvertently gather up
insects as well.
And when night falls
these wee creepie crawlies
make their way
to the top of our brown bin
in an effort to escape.

So I lift the lid
and rescue these wee waifs and strays
(mostly snails, slugs and slaters)
and place them carefully
down the side of our garage
(our “snail sanctuary”!)
because each of these wee waifs and strays
has an important part to play
in the ecosystem of our garden.

And so it is with God.

Each of us
has an important role to play
in the kingdom of God,
no matter how unimportant
or insignificant
we may appear to be
in the eyes of others.

Almighty God
stoops right down
to help every wee waif and stray
who is fighting hard
to follow His light
in a dark world.

Waifs and strays
we may well be
but in the eyes of God
we are precious.

© Claire Murray, 1st March 2022