"Hope" Me

This squirrel has an acorn in it's mouth. She is clinging to my patio screen for dear life. She's trapped, or so she thinks. The squirrel jumped on the screen hoping to avoid another "supposedly" starving squirrel vying for the acorn. (There are plenty in my yard.) It also sees me with my camera looking out my glass slider. But that's not what has her frozen. My golden retriever stands at my side, his hunter eyes focused on this enticing furry object on his screen. He drools, yes, dogs drool, ready to charge if I should open my glass door even an inch.

But this silly squirrel doesn't realize I won't let my dog out and a nice sturdy slider keeps the dog at bay. What she sees and imagines freezes her. She doesn't know I will not allow my dog to harm her. What does she hope for? To eat her acorn and live.

"My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him." Psalms 62:5

Life is tough. Many times I feel like this squirrel, clinging to my last morsel, and imagining all the things that can go wrong. No hope paralyzes and destroys any ministry. I can see the "hunter" drooling in the future, ready to pounce if given an inch.

"For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men." 1 Timothy 4:10

When I look and "fix" my eyes on the living God from which hope comes, I can step out and run, just like the squirrel did when she turned and jumped on the bush and ran to the nearest tree. Safe from the hunter and his opponent and with her acorn intact.

Thank you Savior and giver of Hope.

photo-karenrevans-click on pic to enlarge and you can see her large eyes.