A Visit with Tony the Squirrel

This afternoon, I stepped outside to find Tony the Squirrel sitting at the end of our front walkway. He froze, then hopped to greet me—one cautious bounce closer to me at a time. It took a minute or two. I didn’t move, only whispered. “Hello, Tony. Happy New Year. Thanks for coming to visit. That’s it. Keep coming. I’m safe.”

This time of year, Tony, an Eastern Gray Squirrel, is a Squishmallow in the making, light gray with patches of reddish brown on his back, the top of his head, and the tips of his paws. His eyes are ever-imploring black beads. The last time I saw him, he hopped up on a rock in front of our house as my family pulled up in our car. He stood and waited to greet us as we made our way into the house. He’s the kind of neighbor who takes the time to say, “Hello.”

Today, he hopped right up to my feet. I realized he could bite if he wanted and imagined him suddenly latching onto my leg. But I wasn’t afraid. Tony’s been around long enough to prove himself, long enough to earn a name known by all the neighbors. He peered an inquisition, looking at my face, then to my hands. He tapped to the right, to the left. Tilted his head. Chattered softly. I told him I had no food—just an empty Walmart grocery bag. After all, I wasn’t expecting him. Tony seemed to accept this truth, turned, and hopped back the way he came, finally disappearing under the bridge at the walkway’s end.

Come visit again, Tony.

Photo by Janet, taken on an earlier visit from our friend

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Noise

Clutter is noise to the eye A cacophony of chaos That distracts Forces lids shut Like hands over ears Desperate for focus nowhere Yet everywhere to be found Too many choices Eyes need a place to land Clean up clutter Clear view Clear mind Find peace Breathe deep See clear

But

I am trusting God to provide the money, the time, the health— every resource I find so necessary, but if He does not, He is enough. He will always be enough because He is the reason for my being. He created me for Him, to worship Him through all eternity which begins right now, which began when I first knew Him back then at six. But for now, I am here, asking for needs to be met— trusting, waiting, trying, working— all in His presence. If nothing comes of it, He is here. He is there. He is God, and I’m His child. All is well.

No Worry Anymore

I don’t want to worry anymore. Don’t want to fear the phone call, the bill, arriving unexpected by mail, the month left at the end of the money, the unseen predator, the crisis not mine, but mine to fix or forever wonder if my two mites could have made the difference after all, at last, the natural disaster, the unnatural disaster caused by consequences unintended, unforeseen. I don’t want to worry about any thing, any more. And so, I give all of this worry unworthy to You Who sees only and all real threats to me coming, no surprise, no problem, only gracious provision preprepared . * * * I wrote this post for the Five-Minute Friday Link-Up. Click here to read other writers' posts on today's prompt: anymore . Photo by Artem Kovalev on Unsplash

Janet Benlien Reeves

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