INNER STRENGTH â—½ YOU
It all started with two squirrels, chasing each other, fighting over an acorn.
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“We rounded up acorns to make it easier for them,” Matthew said. Apparently, Brendan and Matthew’s game of baseball had gotten interrupted by the chase they witnessed.
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A couple days went by. “They started to wash away, so we put rocks around them to hold them together.” I was intrigued so I went outside and checked it out. I could tell the love and compassion that was put into making this. God was definitely in the center of Matthew’s heart.
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Psalm 116:5
The Lord is gracious and righteous.
Our God is full of compassion.
Isaiah 63:7
I will tell of the kindness of the Lord, the deeds of which He is to be praised,
according to all the Lord has done for us…according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
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Psalm 145:9
The Lord is good to all. He has compassion on all He has made.
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After some time had passed…”I’m going to check on our pile,” Matthew said. He had been gone for quite a while. Just as I started to check on him, he came through the door excited. “It sat on my shoulder while I fed it.” What? I couldn’t believe it! “It didn’t bite you?” I asked, obviously knowing the answer. I was just shocked. “No, it was hungry.”
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I noticed days later, at least half of the acorns in the intact pile were gone. Matthew came out. “They are sleeping now. You can’t really see them.” He was right. I couldn’t see them.
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You know how I said that the boys stopped their baseball game to watch squirrels chase each other? Well, one of the many amazing things about this story is that Brendan, who really wasn’t in to the game, by being open to playing with his brother, witnessed the opportunity to show love and compassion to one of God’s many beautiful creations.
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We have a responsibility to honor and respect the world around us. God needs us to take care of his creations. I am so blessed to have sons that understand that. It is a great reminder for me. I share this story in hopes that it gives us all strength, courage, and motivation to keep doing what we do, as hard as it is sometimes.
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If nothing else, the next time you go outside, look for an acorn or a squirrel and let yourself smile!
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If I can do it, so can you!