squirrels – Grits with Grace

Grace, life, Scripture, sovereignty of God, spring, Trials

Big Truths from a Hard Story

Posted on April 30, 2025April 27, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31

Well, not all stories end well…and this one didn’t. More than a few years ago, on a Friday morning, Judy left for Oklahoma to visit with Sarah, Blake and the boys. The next morning, I got up early as usual, had some time with God and then went for my morning exercise. When I came back, by our backdoor, was a little baby squirrel. Now I don’t know a thing about baby squirrels, so I can’t tell you how old he was. I can tell you that something just didn’t seem right. He had all of his fur but you could tell he was not very strong and oddly, his head seemed just too big for his tiny body.

He was in the grass, but not far from the flower bed, which is next to our backdoor. He seemed to be eating grass but I suspect he was actually getting the water off the dew soaked grass. He was moving pretty good but again, something just didn’t seem right. I’m not sure where he came from since there was not a squirrel nest to be seen. I went on into the house and when I came back out he scurried into the flower bed. I put out some bird food for him to eat. I knew he would like that because all of his big brothers did their best to empty our bird feeders.

Well, he made himself at home. He was definitely eating some of the bird food and I believe having some of the water. He soon made himself a place to sleep there in the flower bed. I was hoping, just hoping, that my little friend was a big enough fighter to pull this thing off. I would check on him each day and give him food and water. I was doing everything I could for him. But a day or so later, when I came home from work, well he had died. I wasn’t surprised because I really thought something was wrong—something more than food or water could fix—something more than ending up at the wrong place at the wrong time. So I wasn’t surprised, but I was genuinely sad. I wanted him to live and I wanted to be his hero—his savior. Neither happened.

Now I’m not sharing this so we can all have a Debbie downer day…not at all. I’m learning that so many things have a story and can teach us big truths. I think this is one of those times. The first thing that came to mind was that sometimes we can do everything right—everything—and still not get the result that we want. We can be the best husband, the best wife, the best parent, the best employee or the best owner and sometimes the story just doesn’t end well. It doesn’t mean we failed. It doesn’t mean we were somehow to blame. Sometimes, it is just part of this thing called life. And while the story doesn’t always end well—we never have to face that difficult ending alone. Our Dearest Daddy is always there. The Whisperer is always close by and whispers the assurance of His love and His compassion. No matter what—Jesus will still be there.

The other big truth from this is that God really does care about the smallest things. If I told you that God knew today that this little creation died, would you believe me? If I told you that even the smallest detail of your life never passes Him unnoticed, would you believe it? If I told you He never grows weary of our worries and fears and unsettled hearts would you have the courage to believe? Well you can, because Jesus said that not even a sparrow can fall to the earth unnoticed by the Father. He even went on to say that if that is true, how much more do you think He cares about you? How. Much. More?

I know and you know that these are just puzzling times. Everything seems so uncertain. It seems as if we spend our days walking on quicksand—our feet unsteadily walking on shifting ground. But don’t be shaken. The God of the universe who cares when a little squirrel dies cares infinitely more about you. Jesus knows and feels your hurts and pains…and He cares.

So all you tendered hearted readers, please forgive me for sharing a hard story. I hope, though, that the big truths made it worth the read. Why not take a moment and sit with the One who loves you so? Why not get close enough to hear His whispers of love and assurance. I hope you will because when our hearts are heavy and a little frightened—we need to know that He’s got this. And He does. Bro. Dewayne

Family, life, marriage, Scripture, Southern born

Forgetting the Most Important

Posted on April 25, 2025April 18, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:13b-14

I forgot the most important thing. It was the fall of 1976. My wife Judy and I were newlyweds and life was good. Oh, and for the record…smile…here we are almost 49 years later, and life is well…good. Ok…back to 1976. I got a call from my oldest brother Reggie who asked if I wanted to go squirrel hunting and could I find a place for us to go. I told him sure and a good friend who had a good place to go squirrel hunting said sure too. So, we picked a Saturday and set a time.

Since the really good place was east of Valdosta where Judy and I lived and since he lived in Jacksonville, we agreed to meet at the hunting place. So, I left early and he, having to drive even further, left earlier and at the appointed hour, we both arrived. I love it when a plan comes together. The sun was just about to say good morning when we got out of our cars. It turns out squirrels are early risers so the best time for hunting is early, and we were early. I love it when a plan comes together.

After a “good morning” and “how are you doing”, we both went to our cars to get our weapons. I recently learned from a friend that guns are not called guns they are either firearms or weapons. The Navy does the same thing with boats and ships. Anyway, as I got to my car and popped the trunk, I reached in to get my gun, weapon or firearm and…wait for it…it wasn’t there. At first I thought in the dim light of dim I just wasn’t seeing it so I prodded and poked around and guess what? The hunter had forgotten the most important thing…his gun, weapon or firearm.

I was so embarrassed. My brother was one of those African safari kind of hunters. He had his hunting vest, his gun, weapon or firearm, a knife and on and on. He looked the part and there I stood with no gun, weapon, or firearm. I didn’t even have a knife. So I told him apparently in the rush to be on time I had left the most important thing behind. We groaned, we moaned and then we laughed. After all, it was funny. So, with two hunters and one gun, weapon or firearm, off we went into the woods. And all morning, I followed quietly behind my brother as he shot squirrels and I watched.

You might be wondering exactly how does a guy who is going hunting forget the tool of the trade…the gun, weapon or firearm. Well, the best I can figure the answer probably has to do with priorities. You see, I can only imagine that I was running a little late that morning and at the moment being on time (which for the record is important) caused me to rush and leave my gun, weapon or firearm behind. In other words, the important took the place of the most important…the urgent overrode the most urgent. And, I have the feeling, it happens way too often.

All of us have things that are important and most of us have a most important thing. Paul, the guy who wrote a bunch of the New Testament said that there was one thing he did. In other words,…this one is important, and do you know what it was? Forgetting the past and looking to the future. Now that is a good one. You see, he knew he had a past worth forgetting and a future worth grabbing ahold of and that was what made it important.

So, what is it in your life that you need to bump up to the top? Chances are it can’t be bought at a store or rented from Rent One. Chances are it involves those that you love the most and the ones who love you most. Don’t wait to figure this one out. Time is ticking by and there is not a minute to lose. If you find yourself at a loss, well, there is someone just waiting to help. He is really good at lending clarity for our priorities if we ask. Too some He is just God but to others He is Dearest Daddy. Regardless, He loves you and is waiting to help you. No doubt about it…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

gratitude, life, love, loving others, priorities, Scripture, thankful

Food Truck Day

Posted on July 19, 2022July 18, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36

There’s a new food truck in town. I’m a walker…not every day but consistently. I take several different routes but one of my favorites is around the lake at the city park. It was there I met Bubba the goose (for past readers he said to tell you hi), saw the power of integration in the goose families (they are doing fine), saw a man waging a war with people I could not see, and saw the new food truck in town. Let me explain.

We walkers see two kinds of exercisers. Some people come and go, and some are regular as clockwork, they show up to walk each day. Like Forest Gump they start running—or walking—and just don’t stop. These folks become unofficial friends. We may not know each other’s names, what we do for a living or where the other person lives but for those few minutes at the park our lives intersect. And then, there’s the “food truck.”

She loves dogs and really animals. She walks her dogs every day in the park…and there are several. But what is interesting is that for a long time there was a cat walking with her. I mean a lot of people walk dogs, but a cat? The feline wasn’t on a leash but would just quietly walk behind her and the dogs. Talk about intriguing. So, after a while I just had to talk with her. It turns out it wasn’t her cat at all. She met the cat one day while walking and it looked a little thin, so she started dropping some dry cat food on the sidewalk and …well the cat had breakfast and hung around for dessert. There was a new “food truck” in town.

Sadly, one day her feline friend wasn’t there, and I learned that he was hit by a car and didn’t survive. We mourned together…a lady I didn’t know losing a cat she didn’t own but we paused and grieved. But before long, there was another cat. I first saw him on the sidewalk about a block from the park and he was having breakfast on the sidewalk, and I knew the “food truck” had been by. The relationship wasn’t as tight or as long, but she had made a new friend by meeting a need.

Well, one day I was again walking in the park and ahead I saw several squirrels having breakfast. Yup, the “food truck” fed squirrels too. And then a few days later I saw several ducks gathered on the walking trail. Turns out ducks like cat food and they too were having breakfast. The “food truck” was a hit in the park and everyone was invited. But the funniest part was yet to happen.

So, I am walking, and across the narrow lake I can see her walking her dog. Behind her is a group of ducks having breakfast. Then on my side of the lake there are three ducks, and they are on the move. They are waddling as fast as their little legs would take them and they are quacking up a storm. Again, my duck is a little rusty, but I believe they were saying, “Hey wait for us.” So, huffing and puffing they waddled down a small peninsula and jumped in. Paddling furiously, they headed straight across the lake. Like kids chasing the ice cream truck they swam on. It was my last lap for the day but the last time I saw them they were on shore and hollering, “Wait, we’re coming.”

I don’t know my friend’s name, but I do know her impact. Her acts of kindness to animals makes her a hit with them and with me. She just seems to care and really, besides this strange sort of fan club, gets no other reward. She just does what she thinks is the next right thing. I wonder how different our world would be if we did the same. Jesus did. The Book tells us that when He saw people—He didn’t see social class, He didn’t see color—He just saw people and He had compassion on them. He saw them as sheep without a shepherd or maybe like ducks needing breakfast.

Compassion is best defined as simply love in action. It’s seeing a need and then doing what you can to meet that need. Imagine today taking the time to show kindness to someone having a difficult day. Imagine today taking the time to give someone a smile when they are only used to frowns. Imagine today doing simply the next right thing—without reward, without expectation—simply because it is the right thing to do. It might just be amazing. It might just look crazy…like a cat following a lady walking her dog. It might just be game changing.

In a few minutes, I’m going to do my walking thing. I don’t have any cat food. In fact, my shorts don’t even have pockets but I can pack an intentional smile for someone who needs one. I can do that. Sometimes Jesus gave out free lunches to crowds—big crowds. Sometimes He healed broken bodies and spirits. But something that I think we overlook is that He probably smiled…a lot. Imagine His joy as He shared and showed compassion—love in action.

Like the cat, like the ducks following the “food truck,” people followed Him. Not just for the bread, though some did, but because around Him they felt safe. They felt loved. They found a place where they could rest from the craziness of life. We can too. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, Trials

Don’t Forget!

Posted on April 27, 2022April 26, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:13b-14

I forgot the most important thing. It was the fall of 1976. My wife Judy and I were newlyweds and life was good. Oh, and for the record…smile…here we are 46 years later, and life is well…good. I got a call from my oldest brother Reggie who asked if I wanted to go squirrel hunting and could I find a place for us to go. I told him sure and a good friend who had a good place to go squirrel hunting said sure too. So, we picked a Saturday and set a time.

After a “good morning” and “how are you doing”, we both went to our cars to get our weapons. I recently learned from a friend that guns are not called guns they are either firearms or weapons. The Navy does the same thing with boats and ships. Anyway, as I got to my car and popped the trunk, I reached in to get my gun, weapon or firearm and…wait for it…it wasn’t there. At first, I thought in the dim light of dim I just wasn’t seeing it so I prodded and poked around and guess what? The hunter had forgotten the most important thing…his gun, weapon or firearm.

I was so embarrassed. My brother was one of those African safari kind of hunters. He had his hunting vest, his gun, weapon or firearm, a knife and on and on. He looked the part and there I stood with no gun, weapon, or firearm. I didn’t even have a knife. So, I told him apparently in the rush to be on time I had left the most important thing behind. We groaned, we moaned and then we laughed. After all, it was funny. So, with two hunters and one gun, weapon or firearm, off we went into the woods. And all morning, I followed quietly behind my brother as he shot squirrels and I watched.

All of us have things that are important and most of us have a most important thing. Paul, the guy who wrote a bunch of the New Testament said that there was one thing he did. In other words, this one is important, and do you know what it was? Forgetting the past and looking to the future. Now that is a good one. You see, he knew he had a past worth forgetting and a future worth grabbing ahold of and that was what made it important.

So, what is it in your life that you need to bump up to the top? Chances are it can’t be bought at a store or rented from Rent One. Chances are it involves those that you love the most and the ones who love you most. Don’t wait to figure this one out. Time is ticking by and there is not a minute to lose. If you find yourself at a loss, well, there is someone just waiting to help. He is really good at lending clarity for our priorities if we ask. To some He is just God but to others He is Dearest Daddy. Regardless, He loves you and is waiting to help you. No doubt about it…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne