Salty the Snail

For several weeks now, I 've been praying to find a garden snail for my daughter's Science lesson (homeschool). I don't have a spacious garden where I live so I sought the assistance of my mom's household since she has a very big garden. But no success. Last May 16, Friday, when we came home at about 5 pm, after a downpour, I spotted the biggest snail I had ever seen! Size of an avocado! It was crawling on the topside of our wall. I was so amused and thankful that we finally discovered one.

In fascination, I watched the kids, extract the snail from the wall and transfer it to a basin with soil and leaves. Eagerly we opened our home encyclopedia to study the snail, review it's body parts and find out what it likes: damp places, plants, etc. In less than an hour, that snail munched up 4 big-size santol leaves! Soon, it was named SALTY. And sooner, this creature captured the heart of Kaila, our soon-to-be seven year old.

The next day, after providing a fresh supply of leaves and spraying Salty with water, we discussed living and non-living things. "Living things move just like Salty." "They eat and poop just like Salty." "They grow." "They produce young." "Is Salty a girl?" We also planned to use Kuya's old aquarium to make Salty a home so we can observe it further.

Sunday morning, in panic, Kaila announced, "Salty's gone!" We checked his basin and indeed, Salty mysteriously disappeared. Like little investigators, kids checked for snail tracks, etc. but there was no sign at all that could point us to the direction the little fellow crawled towards. Kaila was shaken. I personally felt a sense of loss because it was something I prayed for, found but just enjoyed for such a short time. We searched under every furnitire, looked in damp corners.. nothing!

That evening as Kaila tearfully said her bedtime prayers, she repeated what she prayed for during dinner time. "Could you send Salty back? I miss him. I want to share him with my friends." Afterwards, she asked, "Can God really send Salty back?" Hesitantly, I told her that the same God that created us was the same God that created Salty so He can send Him back. Kaila whispered, "If He wants to..." To which I agreed, "Yes, if that is His plan. Maybe Salty left to get you a gift for your birthday!" Then she said, "But Salty is so slow. Will he get back in time for my birthday?" Then I shared with her, "You know the bible also says that even before we ask, God can already be answering our prayer." (And there and then, quietly, I asked the Lord to mercifully grant her request.)

Before noon today, I opened a DVD drawer to get a cd, and guess who was checking out the titles? SALTY!!! I thought I had cracked it's shell when I pulled out the drawer, for awhile I thought it was dead but no.... the Lord chose to answer Kaila's heartfelt prayer. Shrieking in delight, Kaila runs down to check. Ate Tahnee was shaking her head in disbelief. Josh who saw the snail for the first time (was in camp) bravely handled the huge snail and we were awed that it was still alive!! Soon the old aquarium was brought down and transformed into a snail's shelter. More than that, Kuya, who was tasked to get more soil, gives a shout from the garden.."I found more! I found more!" He discoverd about a dozen baby snails, the size of tablets, which we included in the shelter. Each one began crawling on Salty's cone shell and up the leaves of tiny plants!! What a delight!

I can never forget the excitement and joy in Kaila's face naturally overflowing with praises to God, "I love you, Lord. I love you, Mom!" As she stared at Salty and the baby snails, "This is the best gift ever!" She agreed that indeed, even while she was praying last night, God had already answered her prayer cause Salty never really left!! Still stunned by how personally involved our good Lord is, I gave thanks to the Lord for caring enough to strengthen our faith, yes, Kaila's and mine. I hugged her and said, "He heard your prayer, dear, and granted it. His answer is even beyond what you asked!"