November Observations of Squirrels in the Apple Tree

From our kitchen window, we can see the two apple trees in our yard.  We are sometimes entertained by the antics of squirrels trying to get to the few remaining apples on the trees.  We have learned that squirrels love to eat apples.  Rather than picking up fallen apples on the ground (as our visiting deer do), the squirrels seem determined to get the fruit that seem impossible to reach in the apple tree.

Through persistent maneuvers, sometimes they succeed.  The few apples that are left are harder to get to than when the trees were full of apples a few weeks ago.  Most of the leftover apples are on branches too thin to support the weight of a squirrel.  I’ve watched balancing acts of these tenacious animals going as far out on a branch as they can safely go, stretching out their front paws to try to capture an evasive apple.

I’ve noticed squirrels which were struggling to reach an apple, hang upside down with their back feet while reaching down to try to grab an apple below.  Sometimes they succeed, pull the apple up, and balance on the branch while holding the apple between their paws, munching on it.  I’ve nicknamed this action as “eating a balanced diet.”

As a squirrel eats, it’s not unusual to see the partially eaten apple slip out from its paws to the ground.  Sometimes a squirrel will run down, grab it, and carry it to our large maple tree in order to eat more comfortably.  But more often than not, a squirrel will ignore the lost apple and try to get another one from the tree.  This is becoming more difficult as there are so few apples left.

I wonder if the squirrels carry the apple seeds back to their nests to save them for the winter.  They’ve been doing a good job of stuffing themselves with apples to build up their body weight before the snow blows in.

Persistence is a Godly Virtue

Squirrels are persistent in their quest for apples.  There are several Scriptures that teach us that God wants us to be persistent in our quest to grow spiritually.  If we would seek God as diligently as those squirrels seek food, we would be quickly growing into the people He wants us to be.

In 1 Peter 1:58, we are told to make every effort to add these virtues into our lives:  faith, goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love.  We are told that these qualities in our lives will make us effective Chrisitans. I think that perseverance and self control are directly related to persistence – pressing into God’s Presence and His Word to know Him better and to walk with Him more closely.

Hebrews 6:1 encourages us to move beyond the basic teachings about Christ and to move forward into maturity in Christ.  In verses 11-12 tells us to show diligence and to not be lazy about our faith.

Let’s be persistent like the squirrels are!

God Provides for Us

I am often amazed how animals survive long winters.  How do they get by on so little available food?  I have chuckled at squirrels burrowing under snow that has covered bird seed that I put out in the winter. On clear winter days, I have seen deer nibbling on the twigs of bushes.  Just as God provides food for the animals, He will provide for us.

Luke 6:26 and 10:29 are probably familiar to you.  Jesus talked about sparrows as examples of how He cares for animals.  He states that we are worth so much more than the sparrows, so we should have faith that He will take care of us too.  As we pray and give, He moves with compassion to meet or needs, if we are His followers.

Let’s trust God for provision and ask Him to make us more persistent in following Jesus.

 

by Karen S. Roberts, Editor of Daily-devotionals.com