Clinging

I stepped outside yesterday morning to snap a picture of our beautiful sunrise.  I turned to walk back inside when it hit me that there was something else I needed to see and to think about.

I mean, I have seen this sight many times this winter, but it was like God was telling me to REALLY see it.

There, up in our big old pin oak, are squirrel’s nests.  It’s amazing that they can cling to those branches through all the wind, rain, storms, and snow.  

We don’t see those nests in the summer, but when all the leaves are gone, we see them clearly.

A couple weeks ago I was wearily getting ready for bed at the end of a long day.  Aaron’s behaviors that day had depleted me.  Future decisions we need to make for him were weighing on me. Other deep concerns pulled at my emotions.  Soon tears blurred my vision.

Those who have walked with God for a long time will know what I mean when I say that He spoke to my heart right then.  He reminded me of the many times in the past when I felt broken and how He told me to go to my Bible and look at what He had to say to me right then and there.

“Silly me,” I thought.  “Why haven’t I done that in a while?”

Laying there on my desk was my Bible, open to where I had been studying in the book of Joshua.  I looked down and this is the verse that I instantly saw:

“But you are to cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.”   (Joshua 23:8)

I just sat down and cried, this time with thankful tears for this simple yet profound reminder from God.

“Just cling to Me, Patty,” God said, “as you have done for all these years to this day.”

Such simple words but so impacting to me.

I’m no longer young.  I’ve walked with the Lord for a long time and oh, the many verses I have marked with the dates God gave them to me.  Times of trials that led to trust as God spoke to me through His word.

This time in my life is no different than all the other times that God has led and strengthened and sustained me.  

It’s like the squirrel’s nests that we can see when all the leaves are gone.

When the trappings of our lives are gone, what is seen?

When we are slammed with huge decisions, disappointment, a scary and unexpected diagnosis, a wayward child, an uncertain future, betrayal…whatever it is…

Will we cling to God like the squirrel’s nests clinging to the pin oak branches?

Will our trust be clear to us and to others even through our pain and our tears?

I now have “February 2026, Aaron,”  written beside Joshua 23:8.

And I’m working on clinging to God like a squirrel’s nest in the branches. 

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Author: Patty hesaidwhatks

I'm Patty and I write about our adult son who has Epilepsy and Autism, who still lives with my husband and me, and who is a package full of many surprises and joys and challenges and TALK! Lots of talking, which creates laughter and some other reactions as well. I also write about how God shows Himself to me in everyday life.

21 thoughts on “Clinging”

  1. Once again- precious words and promises from God shared! Hugs and prayers! Love the squirrel nests example. I will think of this every time I see them out my window! Lord, help me to cling to you!
    Sent from my iPhone

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  4. What a beautiful and powerful word. I love that the lord used your hard place not only to speak to you personally but to encourage our hearts too. I needed to hear this tonight. Thank you for sharing!

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      1. I’m so glad the comment went through… I’ve been having so much trouble! Blessings to you as you continue to lean into the Lord’s love and provision ❤️❤️❤️

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  8. Patty, I love this! And it’s right on time for me today. I got very choked up when I read the verse you shared. It seemed like God was saying it to me, too. Thank you, my friend, for sharing about your walk with God. May God bless you richly! 🤗

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    1. Thank you, Cindy. I’m thankful that the verse I shared meant a lot to you, too. When I saw that verse, it reminded me of how I would talk to my children when I would explain to them to just do something. It was like God, my Father, was doing that to me – telling me to just cling to Him and watch Him work. It was simple but so personal and profound to me.

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  9. What a beautiful story, Patty. I LOVE how God provided that perfect passage for you! Thank you for sharing. / Just the other day I mentioned to my husband, “How do you suppose the squirrels’ leaf-nests hold together?” I need to research that; perhaps there’s another life-lesson yet to be revealed. P.S. I’ll be praying about your future decisions for Aaron.

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