‘Baby Opossum – on Street’ by Vicky TGAW is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Opossums are everywhere. It’s the Virginia opossum here in the U.S.A… (See photo above of cute baby.) We see a lot of them in Oklahoma, even in our backyard! We used to see a young man walking along the highway with a pet one wrapped around his neck. (Guess they make a good pet???)
They average 21-36 inches long including their tail and weigh 4-5 pounds. They are great tree climbers with their sharp claws, opposable thumbs on the hind feet and a tail they use to hang on to branches.
(No, they do not sleep hanging from a branch by their tail.)
They are voracious eaters and will eat just about anything including venomous snakes, but they are truly your friend because they eat up to 5000 tics in a single season!!!
They are the only marsupials in the U.S., raising their young in a pouch like a kangaroo!
But they are most famous for the ability to ‘play dead’ or as some say, ‘play possum’.
Actually, according to Mental Floss, Possums have no control over when they play dead or for how long they do it: The comatose-like state is an involuntary reaction triggered by stress.
They can play dead for up to four hours!
Havahart.com gives us a tip that will help save more opossums: ‘Many injured opossums have been killed by well-meaning people who find a catatonic animal and assume the worst. The best thing to do upon finding an injured or apparently dead opossum is to leave it in a quiet place with a clear exit path. In minutes or hours, the opossum will regain consciousness and escape quietly on its own.’
The opossum is reacting to stress in the same way animals and humans have since prehistoric times, albeit more dramatically! They are exhibiting the ‘fight, flight, freeze’ their brain triggers in response to a perceived threat.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND? What if you find yourself in a situation you can’t fight your way out of or take flight from on your job, in your family, finances, or marriage! Often, we take the last of the three, we freeze! Like the opossum, the freeze works sometimes, but what if it ‘freezes’ in the middle of the road? It will probably get killed or badly injured.
We use the ‘freeze’ reaction as a response to stress triggers! Like the opossum, sometimes it works, we learn to control our stress or the situation causing the stress gets resolved. Or it can kill us!
According to a survey of the American Psychological Association, 44 percent of Americans lie awake at night because of stress. “Stress in America: Our Health at Risk,” 2011. This is one example of how prolonged episodic stress can affect our personal life and our productivity at work. It is a positive thing for our body to get ready for acute stress. It prepares our body to perform at a higher level. However, long-term chronic stress or episodic acute stress can cause a variety of problems.
Look at this list of common Effects of Stress on Our Bodies, Moods, and Behaviors from the Mayo Clinic staff:
| On Your Body | On Your Mood | On Your Behavior |
| Headache | Anxiety | Overeating or undereating |
| Muscle tension or pain | Restlessness | Angry outbursts |
| Chest pain | Lack of motivation or focus | Drug or alcohol abuse |
| Fatigue | Irritability or anger | Tobacco use |
| Disinterest in things we normally enjoy | Sadness or depression | Social withdrawal |
| Stomach upset | ||
| Sleep problems |
According to an article in Healthline.com, Stress itself can’t kill you. But, over time, it can cause damage that leads to premature death. This damage can be anything from cardiovascular issues to encouraging unhealthy habits, like smoking and alcohol misuse. You could live longer if you had less stress in your life.
Thank God, as always, the scriptures have an antidote to stress!
What were the last words Jesus said to His disciples in the upper room?
‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ John 14:27.
A prophesy by Isaiah makes it clear that Jesus’ death and resurrection provided three things, forgiveness of sin, PEACE, and healing.
‘But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.’
Isaiah 53:5.
In addition, the Apostle Paul writes many admonitions to help us relieve stress and live at PEACE! ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.’ 1 Peter 5:7.
And Philippians 4:6-7, ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’
Study your scriptures and you will find many more admonitions and promises from God to help you live in PEACE, free from stress no matter the circumstances you face! And remember,
GOD WILL KEEP YOU IN PREFECT PEACE, IF YOUR MIND IS STAYED ON HIM!
The following link will take you to the ‘Living Word Community Church’ website. They have a Stress Test you can take and offer themselves to help you deal with stress.
Stress causes a whole myriad of issues! I hear this a lot at my job, “I don’t know why my back feels so much more stiff today.” My first question is always, “any additional stress lately?” 9/10 the answer is yes! Don’t let stress consume you! We have everlasting peace! Let go, and let God.
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Whom among us does not have stress of some kind on a daily basis ? Seek the Lord and ask for his help, If he cannot help you, nobody can.
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