A Squirrelly Tale

“Can a man hide himself in hiding places so I do not see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” Jeremiah 23:24

It’s a confession I have to make – there’s a bit of “squirrel” in me! I will explain. Squirrels are forever hiding their winter food supply (acorns) in and among my flower beds. Evidently their memories are a lot like mine. They forget where they hide their stashes because those stashes sprout in the spring and show up as miniature trees in my flower beds.

I hide things or tuck things away for safe keeping. It’s probably a good thing, but like the squirrels, I forget where I tuck them. I’m always surprising myself when I come upon an item – especially extra money – that I’ve put away for another day or need.

Just a few weeks ago I pulled open a less-used dresser drawer to look for a particular item. A bit of green peeped through from the bottom of the drawer’s contents. I pushed back the top layers to find $120 in 20-dollar bills! I could not remember when I had tucked them into this hiding spot, but I had a spell of rejoicing at such a weekday find!

Immediately my mind began to count the number of garden plants that find would purchase. It would buy enough compost bags to make every tree and plant that lived in our yard rejoice. It would cover the cost of a new outdoor umbrella and maybe a small ceramic pot. As I covered the new found stash and closed the drawer I continued to mentally shop. That spring day in the future was about to have a grand shopping experience!

A couple of weeks ago our congregation was reminded of a challenging goal for our Annie Armstrong Offering. I rejoiced that our church had set such a challenging goal for such an eternal project. While I was relishing the thought of giving more, God took me to my stash in my dresser drawer. I’m honest when I say I didn’t immediately rejoice that I had an extra amount to give to Annie, but I am thankful that I didn’t argue with God or try to compromise about how I blessed others with my flowers. Annie had just secured an extra $120 from me.

Then I felt a flood of joy to know I had such a watchful Savior. There is nothing hidden from Him. He sees and knows all, and that omniscient care is for His children. I took home an Annie Armstrong offering envelope that Sunday for my stash offering.

LORD of the universe, thank you for seeing and knowing all and everything. My mind cannot comprehend such truth, but I praise You and ask that our obedience might always be the immediate kind. In Jesus’ name I ask this. Amen