Just beyond the rail of our back porch, there it stood. Having recently gained control of its wobbly legs, there stood a beautiful fawn–white spots sprinkled over its back and flanks. Ears alert, the newly born deer didn’t seem squeamish at all, simply following in the steps of his mother. Unaware that we had full view through our sliding glass door, the little fawn stepped easily through pine straw and fallen branches as if to say, “I love this place!”

I’m going to name it “Sprite” since I do not know its gender because I have a strong feeling that every living thing needs a name. A name is important. Jesus had a name even before he was born; the Angel of the Lord told Joseph he should call Mary’s son, “Jesus.” And while I’m at it, on this name thing, The Lord even blessed the scoundrel, Jacob and to his astonishment, Jacob gave a name to the place, Bethel.

So there! it’s Scriptural. But I digress. Sprite, (remember? the fawn) has reason to feel non-threatened. I’ll wager that there is a family in the neighborhood. It is not unusual to see a deer or two grazing on spilled bird seeds under the feeders. There is yet another fawn who visits us regularly, maybe last year’s–for this one looks and acts like a yearling. She also blesses our front yard, coming up a small gully from the woods.

This year I am gracious about these roaming hoofed ruminant mammals of the family Cervidae. Jane is less gracious. and for good reasons. I may not be that cordial to them later; especially if they eat all our potted plants, shrubbery, and vegetable beds. Jane says they have done just that in the past–some years more severely than others.

We moved into their natural habitats. We cannot plan shared living space. Come to think about it, we human beings have a poor record of planning with other human beings. We still fail to understand well and do not always live in harmony.

To the most challenging question Jesus was asked (“What is the greatest Commandment?), Jesus gave this answer; “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.

©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2026