Parable of the Three Squirrels

Animus looked down on the three squirrels and chortled.  Next to scolding the dog the crow's favorite activity was teasing the nut-hoarders.  "Hey Might--you think you are so strong and brave.  I bet you can't drop a plum on Saber's head."  Might bristled at the dare.  As the largest and most powerful in his family, he took pride in his feats of strength.  Now with September halfway gone, the purple fruit was fat and juicy and he was in truth sitting next to one of the largest plums on the whole tree.  Directly below him with his permanent hunter stare, sat Saber, a large sheltie who absolutely loved chasing squirrels.

Sitting two trees over and observing, Patience, the second oldest of the three siblings said, "Might, don't listen to Animus, there's no point in messing with Saber.  He's already killed two of our cousins and we've worked hard to try and win him over by dropping plums for him to eat. Don't do it!"  Might threw up his tail with a mocking sneer. He never took advice from his sister very well.  Promptly he went to work separating the plum from its branch.  "Watch this you dumb crow, I'll hit him right on his head!"  Then with a flourish he sent the plum hurtling straight towards Saber.  Unfortunately when the plum dislodged the branch snapped back smacking Might right in the face.  The startled squirrel lost his balance and fell. Saber, calmly dodged the falling plum and pounced on the hapless squirrel as soon as he landed. Patience and Rapacious, the youngest of the three squirrels, were beside themselves with grief.  They screamed at the dog but there was nothing they could do.

Later as the afternoon wore on, Rapacious told Patience, "Animus was the cause of Might's death.  If he hadn't taunted him, this would never have happened.  I'm going to fix that crow once and for all!"  Patience looked at her younger brother and shook her head.  "Don't mess with Animus!  Just leave it alone. Might should have listened to me. Just wait and we'll think of something we can do."  But Rapacious couldn't control his emotions.  Seeing that Animus had flown elsewhere, he quickly worked his way to the top of the fir tree to the crow's nest.  Angrily he tore it apart and tossed the bird's shiny treasures down to the earth. Just as he finished and started down the tree, Animus came back. The crow was furious and tried to fly at Rapacious pecking and clawing hoping to make him fall but the squirrel was too quick and too alert, easily dodging the bird's attacks.   So for 15 minutes Animus let loose with such aggressive caws that other curious crows flew in to join him only adding to the ruckus.

Two weeks later, Rapacious was crossing the lawn with a large nut.  What he did not know was that Saber was lying underneath the maple tree watching him.  Normally, Animus cawed a warning to the squirrels if the dog was around to alert them to the danger.  But Animus wanted revenge for losing his nest, so although he saw that Saber was nearby, he kept silent.  Before Rapacious could reach the safety of the trees, Saber cut him off and was in position to catch him.  It would have been the end for the second brother if his alert sister had not also been watching.  Scolding the hunter as best she could, she darted from the base of the fir tree past the startled sheltie who now, confused as to whom to go after, lost the element of surprise allowing Rapacious to escape.

In the end, Might does not make right, a Rapacious act is nothing to crow about, and Patience saves lives.
 
Meditation
Proverbs 16:32—Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s temper, than capturing a city.
 
©2013 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.   
  
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)