The Squirrels' Feast

As I drove into our driveway last week, I came upon two squirrels feasting upon the large pumpkin that we had sitting on our front steps.  They had gnawed a whole in the side of it and were enjoying both the flesh of the pumpkin as well as its seeds. I chased them away but because my hands were full at the moment, left things the way they were.  Of course, the next chance possible, the two squirrels were back at their feast.  When I came out of the house, seeds and pumpkin were all over the steps.  I realized I had to do something or we were going to have a great big mess on our hands. 

My first thought was to pick up the pumpkin and throw it in the garbage thinking, no more pumpkin, no more squirrels, no more mess.  But then I had a second thought.  What would be the big deal if I moved the pumpkin to another spot—e.g. into the bushes—and allowed the squirrels to continue their feast? Although I’m not crazy about squirrels, did it really make a difference to me whether or not they ate the rest of the pumpkin?  After all, it already had a big hole in it and was useless to me.  So, I took the pumpkin down off the steps, put it into the bushes and left it there for the squirrels to continue their feast. And of course, over the next few days they did. 

I don’t necessarily love squirrels.  I’m not the kind who goes out and feeds them throughout the winter. At that moment, however, I just felt it was the right thing to do—at least for me.  And as I did, a scripture came to mind, one that I think God may have been trying to speak into my life.  That scripture comes from Psalm 84.


“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (Psalm 84:11 - NIV)

My little interaction with the squirrels reminded me that as God watches over my life, he is very much aware of what I need. He’s no killjoy, looking to take away those things that are good for me. He doesn’t withhold what is good, but instead supplies my every need “according to his riches in glory.” (Philippians 4:19 - KJV) 

This Thanksgiving season, I’m grateful that we serve a God who never withholds that which is good.  He takes care of us as his children, blessing us even beyond what we need or deserve.  That’s the kind of God he is. That’s the kind of heavenly Father we have. So, let’s be sure to give him thanks!

Have a great day! 

-Pastor Tim Harris