Tuesday, November 17, 2009

be like the squirrel


when problems overwhelm us and sadness smothers us, where do we find the will and the courage to continue?
well the answer may come in the caring voice of a friend, a chance encounter with a book, or from a personal faith.


for janet, help came from her faith, but it also came from a squirrel.
shortly after her divorce, janet lost her father, then she lost her job.
she had mounting money problems.
but janet not only survived, she worked her way out despondency, and now, she says, life is good again.

how could this happen? she told me that, late one autumn day, when she was at her lowest, she watched a squirrel storing up nuts for the winter. one at a time, he'd take them to the nest. and she thought, "if that squirrel can take care of himself for the harsh winter coming on, so can i. one i broke my problems in small pieces, i was able to carry them, just like those acorns, one at a time."

take all your problems and rip 'em apart...

5 comments:

Jack said...

squirrels are awesome. i bet there are a lot more life lessons we could learn from those cute, furry little nut-jobs.

Kim-may said...

Ah!!!!!!!!! I absolutely love this song-- also -- I was convinced for years that it was Pres. Oaks' voice. Doesn't it sound like him?

Becky said...

As our father used to ask me on occasion when I was overwhelmed "How do you eat an elephant?" "I don't eat elephant," I would reply (I ride them--but I hadn't yet). "One bite at a time," he answered. Probably acorn-sized bites.

--jeff * said...

kimmy::

yeah, it always makes me think of elder oaks, too.

kwistin said...

mmm. i missed this post. i'm glad i read it now; thanks.