Jesus Loves You – Sometimes It Takes a Squirrel Landing on Your Head

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

Proverbs 3:5 NIV

It happened so quick I don’t think either one of us knew what happened. I came home from work one day, and as a opened the gate to my back patio suddenly something heavy and furry fell on my head. It was a squirrel! He quickly made his jump from my head to the fence.

Both of us looked at each other in shock. Then he came closer to me, wiggling his little nose at me as if he was saying he was sorry he scared me. Those of you who know me know I love animals. So, for some strange reason, I started talking to the squirrel. He came closer than a squirrel had ever come to me. My day had not gone well. I told him I know what it is like when you feel are heading in one direction and the ground drops beneath your feet.

He never expected me to open the gate when I did, just like I never expected the curve balls that got tossed in my direction. “It looks like we both are having a rough day,” I said to him as I went inside the house.

I tried to figure out why my day didn’t match what I thought it should be. What was I doing wrong? What had I not thought through correctly? Then it hit me like the squirrel landing on my head. I never invited Jesus into any situations I was facing instead I went into my fix it mode. I took control. I didn’t consult Jesus before acting or reacting.

I looked out the window and saw the squirrel watching me through the window. I said, “You literally had to hit me in the head to make me realize I was missing an important part of my decision making.” Both me and the squirrel missed the mark that day.

I am thankful we serve a God who gives us grace and mercy we don’t deserve. He doesn’t keep score of our missteps or mistakes. He lets us begin again, and he forgives us.

Every time I see Chester (yes, I named him) because each morning when I open the blinds, he is sitting on the fence post looking through the window waiting to see me off to work.

He is a reminder to begin each day watching my steps, by putting God first in every decision big or little. Sometimes Jesus uses little critters to open our eyes, to not only his creation, but to show us that when we stay focused on Him rather than where we are going, we cannot miss the mark with Jesus beside us.

Mitzie Avera