…my mistakes.
Monday, our rabbit hutches finally arrived, but since I’d spent most of the morning getting my allergy shots, I hadn’t planned on putting them together until later.
Plans changed at noon, when I went outside to feed my lamb her bottle, there was a commotion at the old hutch.
As soon as I could, I went over to the barn to see what was going on.
Our male rabbit was chasing our female in circles all around the pen.
She was making the worst noises I’ve heard and was obviously stressed.
I grabbed out our male and tried to figure out a good place to keep him till we could get the hutches put together.
First, we tried the lamb’s outdoor pen, but he scooted through a hole.
Thankfully, Jase was standing right there and got him.
Jase suggested the lamb’s other pen which is under cover.
It was perfect.
Jase lugged the boxes, each containing a hutch, to the barn.
Praising God that my husband had taught our son so much about tools, because he knew where everything was, I suggested we build both at the same time, we’d each work on one.
As we worked, I kept noticing our female rabbit.
The old hutch has a completely wire bottom and in an effort to keep the bunnies from getting sores on their feet, we have grass hay down.
They get fresh hay twice a day and she had plenty, but she kept digging at it.
Although, we’ve never raised rabbits, I have read up on them since receiving these and began to feel concerned.
We’ve been fairly certain the female was pregnant and I remembered reading about a female making a nest near delivery.
I was worried she was attempting to make a nest.
The wire cage would require a box for her to have the kits in.
We didn’t have any wooden boxes and had the male rabbit in the lamb pen.
Letting my fear get the better of me, I sent Jase to the workshop to get a box.
Praying as I worked, the Lord reminded me He was in charge.
Didn’t He send the hutches in time?
Yes.
Then, He would handle the box and I needed to simply focus on the task at hand.
When Jase returned, he was carrying a large cardboard box.
“Mom, this is the only box we have that she could fit in.”
I shook my head.
“Nevermind, sweetheart. I’m sorry I sent you on a wild goose chase. Let’s just finish these hutches.”
He went back to work on his and I had moved mine inside on a piece of plywood to attach the run to the rabbit house.
I put it on upside down and realized it, then thanked the Lord for the mistake.
I was thankful, because I always make a mistake when putting things together and thought how fortunate to have messed up on something so easy to fix.
Jase came over to help me get the ramp on, but it wasn’t touching the ground.
Weird…
But I passed it off, added a small piece of wood to make the ramp stable and finished up the hutch.
I put a full waterer on the side and broke the new feeder trying to get it on.
Jase found a dish to use instead of the feeder and I went to get our male bunny.
It didn’t take long for me to realize something was wrong with the hutch.
Although, I’d placed a piece of 2×4 under the ramp it was ridiculously steep, and there was a gap between the roof and the top of the run.
Jase got a longer 2×4 and covered the gap.
I knew this wasn’t just poor design, something was off.
I prayed about it, asking the Lord for wisdom and then I realized the problem.
This piece was upsidedown.
I was less than happy, because that was step three or four and I really didn’t want to take it all apart and start over.
Jase was less than thrilled as well, so I told him to head to the house and take a break.
I didn’t want to have our male back in the pen with the female, so the first step would be to finish the other hutch.
Once that was completed, I placed our male in it so I could begin to take apart and fix my mistake.
As I began to take the run off the rabbit house, I prayed.
“Lord, please help me figure this out. I don’t want to have to take it all apart, but I’m willing.”
The Lord answered.
He showed me that I could remove the side without taking the house completely apart.
Before I had expected, I was putting it all back together!
My mind turned to the female rabbit.
“Lord, I need a box, please help me to know what to do.”
I finished the run and was looking at the hutch when it hit me.
The house part of this was the exact size and shape she needed.
“Thank You, Jesus!”
He had supplied all my needs.
After putting hay in both the run and the house, I placed our female inside.
I could tell she was much happier in the new hutch.
Last night, I checked on both bunnies before bed and discovered a nest.
Our female is all set to have kits in the next day or two.
As I headed back to the house to tell my husband, my heart was filled with thanksgiving to God.
If the Lord had not allowed me to make the mistake about the hutch side, I’m nearly certain I wouldn’t have been so keen on moving both rabbits to the new hutches as the female doesn’t like to be handled.
God knew I needed a set of circumstances to help me fully understand what the priorities were; not just getting the bunnies separated, but giving the female a safe place to have her babies.
It’s another example of God’s Word.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 NKJV
He really can use all things, even my mistakes.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your patience with me. Lord, too often I get sidetracked on what I think is the priority or need rather than consulting You. I run ahead of Your direction then feel lost in where to go next. Lord, please help me to walk beside You, diligent in listening to Your voice, patient with the season I’m in, being guided by Your truth. Lord Jesus, please help me to walk with understanding and discernment throughout this day, looking to Your Word for my all. Lord Jesus, I thank You so much for bringing me exactly what I needed when I needed it and helping me to remain calm, trusting You despite my mistakes. Lord Jesus, for those who have yet to know You and thus no idea how to trust You, I humbly ask You reach them with Your truth and salvation. Lord, for those who have put their trust in You, I request that they walk in faith, without doubting or fear, but in the understanding of Your perfect peace and love. Thank You that we can come before You for direction in all things. Thank You for Your love and blessings. May Your name be glorified this day. Amen.
patientlyhopeful 