a squirrel story

Here's a little story that i wish more humans could be inspired by.  My audience is small, so it's difficult to share with many.

During our recent snow storms, dropping about 15" of heavy snow, i still tossed out nuts for my squirrel friends.  The first day, the nuts sat on top of the fresh snow.  The next couple of days, the nuts were buried by the falling snow.  During all this, only one squirrel came out of the tree in the backyard.  Filling it's mouth beyond it's limits with nuts.  Then climbing up one of our two trees.  Only to return a few minutes later, filling its mouth again and then climbing up the other tree.  Normally when i tossed out the nuts, i have 6 or more squirrels that rush down the trees for their treats.  But because of the cold and deep snow, it was only one squirrel who ventured out.  Getting nuts for the other squirrels while they stayed in their nest, high up in the trees.

i watched this squirrel do this over and over again.  Feeling so bad for them, i tossed out more nuts than usual.  My squirrel friend didn't clear the porch, where the nuts are, right away.  Instead, my squirrel friend would go up into the tree and stay for a while.  i'm guessing to get warm and thaw out those adorable feet.

Finally the snow was cleared from our back porch.  And that first day, all the other squirrels returned.  Eating the nuts, burying a few and playing on the twigs.

It was just so beautiful to watch this squirrel take care of others.  It made me wish that humans could learn to be so unselfish and compassionate.  Sadly, society seems to be going further and further away from such a hope i have.