God supplies us with 'acorns,' too

Winter is just about upon us where I live, and I love seeing the changing of the seasons. Towering oak trees and their fallen leaves have announced the arrival of the cold weather. Usually at the start of autumn, thousands of acorns rain down to the earth, like a heaven-sent feast for the countless squirrels inhabiting my yard. They delight in packing away their bounty for the long winter months.

This year, however, things were different. For some unknown reason, there was only a handful of acorns in our neck of the woods, barely enough to feed one squirrel, let alone the entire population. My neighbors and I saw the squirrels frantically searching for their sustenance. Unfortunately, however, these woodland creatures were having little success this year preparing for the cold.

So I made it a point to throw out bread crumbs for them to munch on, and my neighbors put out extra birdseed to accommodate them. And we’ll continue to do that through the winter months ahead.

In the midst of my concern for the animals, I was also reminded of the challenges I and so many of my friends have been facing lately, with so many people trying to find employment, or those who are employed trying to save up, fearing worsening economic scarcity. Do we have enough “acorns” in our nests? So few, myself included, seem to feel secure in their answer to this.

And then one day my worry was lifted both for myself and for the squirrels. I was out walking my dog in the cold morning air, thinking about my own finances. As usual, my canine companion spotted a squirrel. This one was comfortably perched on a large discarded gourd on the curb, probably part of an overripe holiday centerpiece. It was munching contentedly, and stuffing the seeds into its cheeks.

At that moment, Christ Jesus’ encouragement from Matthew came to mind: “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” (6:26).

Yes, the birds – or in this case, the squirrels – were being cared for by God, as evidenced by the care shown by our neighborhood. The creatures didn’t ask us; we were just impelled by love to supply their need. And, as the Bible verse says, as humans, are we not much better than these? Won’t God provide “acorns” for us, too?

The answer, of course, is a resounding “yes!” And at that moment, I felt relief, knowing that, while the squirrels were being cared for, so, too, was I, and all of humanity. With renewed faith and expectancy of God’s unlimited, bountiful, and always present goodness, I thought of the words of Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science and the founder of the Monitor: “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need” (“Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” p. 494). What comfort there is in seeing this in action with the smallest of creatures, and knowing that, without a doubt, God is caring for each of us at this very moment. Regardless of the season of our life, divine Love is supplying our needs even before we ask, and in ways we have yet to imagine.

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