Please Fence Me In!

Spring in Texas wreaks havoc on wooden fences, especially ones that are anchored with wooden posts that tend to rot underground. And because the rotting that is taking place is hidden underneath the dirt, the fence doesn't give much warning that it is about to take a tumble.

In my fence's case, it started waving like a flag blowing in the wind about a week ago. It tried to fall down last weekend, but a tree limb caught it. My neighbor pounded on it a few times, mending it for all of four days. By Friday, it was literally hanging on by a thread.

Enter David, the Excellent Fence Builder as touted by his wife, and two days of beautiful spring weather. And now, after saying goodbye to my tax refund, I have this beautiful new fence anchored with metal posts.



Fences are expensive; it's just in their nature. They are labor intensive and take a truckload of materials. But in the end, they are priceless.

When the old fence was removed, an ugly sight was waiting on the other side of the boundary line. Apparently, not everyone shares the same views on what constitutes trash or where it should be disposed of. If I had to look at that scene every day, I would go crazy. The new fence saves me from that awful fate.

The fence allows me to let Annie into the backyard by herself. I don't have to grab a leash and go outside with her, which is very time consuming.

The fence also provides me with a sense of security. But I realized last night, when only the metal posts were surrounding my house, that I can't rely on a fence to protect me. In the end, the fence is merely a barrier, not my protector.

I desire to be hemmed in, protected on all sides. And only One can do that.

"You hem me in---behind and before." (Psalm 139:5)