Don’t Give Up on the Hesitant
One of my all‑time favorite memories of Papaw is the way he befriended the squirrels in his backyard. Those two old oaks dropped acorns by the thousands, but Papaw—being Papaw—decided the squirrels deserved something a little finer.
Early one Saturday morning, he placed a handful of big southern pecans at the base of the tree. By the time an hour had passed, every last one had disappeared. He repeated the ritual week after week until, one day, he finally caught the culprit in the act.
A plump gray squirrel scampered down the trunk, snatched a pecan, and hopped up to the first limb like he owned the place. Papaw watched from the den window as that squirrel sat upright, cracked the shell with expert precision, and treated himself to God’s own gourmet snack.
Papaw never said it outright, but I’m convinced both he and that squirrel were grinning ear to ear. And the best part? The story didn’t end there.
Papaw kept offering his free gifts, slow and steady, letting trust grow the way only time can. Eventually he could sit on the back step and watch the squirrel climb halfway down, pause to study him, then descend the rest of the way to collect his pecan—cracking it open right there at the base of the tree instead of darting back to safety. Papaw’s smile grew wider each time.
Months rolled by, and Papaw began calling the squirrel by tapping a pecan against the trunk. The squirrel learned the sound, and before long he came running a little faster each day. After a year of patient friendship, Papaw squatted down and held a pecan in his open palm. The squirrel wasn’t quite ready for that kind of trust, so Papaw set the pecan on the ground and stepped back. The squirrel grabbed it and fled to the branches. Ground gifts felt safe; hand‑to‑hand grace was still too much.
But Papaw didn’t quit. Day after day, he held out his hand. Day after day, the squirrel hesitated. And then—nearly two years in—the moment came. The little gray squirrel took the pecan straight from Papaw’s palm. Papaw froze, letting the squirrel sit beside him and crack the shell in perfect peace. Soon another squirrel showed up, hanging upside down on the trunk, curious about this strange arrangement. He too discovered that the only requirement was simply to accept the gift.
Papaw’s quiet persistence with that little gray squirrel wasn’t just about feeding wildlife—it was a living picture of grace in motion. Each pecan was an invitation, each moment of patience a lesson in love that waits, hopes, and keeps offering. Watching Papaw earn the squirrel’s trust reminded me that the same gentle persistence is what God calls us to show others. Just as Papaw extended his hand again and again, we’re invited to keep extending the gift of Christ—patiently, kindly, and without giving up.
When this past Sunday morning came, and the pastor asked for a show of hands from anyone who had shared the gospel that week only a couple of hands rose. Mine was not one of them. It should have been. Honestly, everyone’s should have.
The early church would not have hesitated. Their hands would’ve shot up instantly, and the room would’ve overflowed with stories of changed lives. And, because of all these testimonies there may not have even had a teaching.
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15
We may not be the early church, but we have the same gift—the same Jesus, the same salvation, the same grace, the same faith freely offered by the Father. All we have to do is accept Him by believing in Him. And then, share Him. After all, “He lives In Us!”
So why aren’t we, as followers of Christ? We become complacent because the people of the world are cautious. People are unsure. People are like Papaw’s squirrel—curious but hesitant, interested but guarded. And that’s okay. With kindness, patience, steady love, and the Holy Spirit leading, we can guide them to the Gift.
“…the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
If Jesus is truly Lord in our hearts, He will come out in our words and in our actions. We won’t be able to contain Him.
So, ask yourself:
Do I really love the Lord? When did I last share the gospel? Who can I introduce to Jesus this week?
He is both the Gift and the One offering His hand. His gift is free, His sacrifice complete, His promise eternal. Why not introduce someone to Him—even if it takes two years—or a lifetime?
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” John 3:16
We will want to talk about the ones and things we really love. No one will be able to stop us.
Amen to that, Chet! Amen!