Wrapped Up in Buried Treasure

Kolleen Lucariello is funny and witty, but also uncommonly wise, in this Christian Life UPGRADE, she encourages us to be aware of the need to store up "treasures" to help us in the tough times.

"I was wrapped up in many ways," Kolleen says, "as I sat on the porch that morning: a warm bathrobe, a heavy blanket, and my worries that had become the focus of my conversation with Jesus.

"That is, until I found myself wrapped up in distraction from the activity of a squirrel."

I (Dawn) laughed hard as I pictured Kolleen's squirrel story. I hope you will enjoy—and learn from it—too!

Kolleen continues . . .

I sat perfectly still as I watched my little squirrel friend.

When he arrived on the scene, his cheeks were bulging and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d from one side to the other as he maneuvered over the grass.  

What is he looking for? I wondered.

Suddenly, little squirrel stopped and put front paws in action; dig, dig and dig some more until all I could see was its middle section down to the tail. Once satisfied, the squirrel sat upright and spit the nut from its cheeks into its front paws, gave it one last glance and plopped the nut into the hole.

Then, with great precision, the squirrel pulled the dirt over the nut and commenced leveling and arranging the grass. A little pat here and a little pat there until satisfied and then, little squirrel scampered away.

Amazed by what I’d witnessed, I wondered if I’d be able to find the location of the nut. I was stunned to discover I could not see—with or without my glasses—any evidence of where the squirrel had just been!

Two days later, I watched the same course of action take place in another area of the yard. The squirrel was preparing for winter.

But, how does a squirrel remember where it buried its treasure?

I thought to myself. If I can’t see it, how will the squirrel find it under feet of snow?

I did my own digging on the topic and discovered that, not only do they have great memories, squirrels also hide a food supply in several locations in the event they might forget or they are consumed by another.

My daughter-in-law shared a Snapple cap of “RealFacts” with me that said, “Squirrels lose more than half the nuts they hide.”

Mesmerized, I experienced an upgrade in my life as I watched the little critter bury its treasure in the yard that day.

1. The Importance of Reinforcing PREPARATION.

Just as that squirrel was preparing for winter, I was reminded of how we can prepare for the seasons of life that feel most like winter by burying the treasure of the Word of God within us.

“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11, NLT).

When the Word is within us, it provides the warmth of hope when we feel frozen by fear or tossed by the storms of this life.

2. The Reality of EVIDENCE When Our Memory Fades.

My failure to find the exact location of where the squirrel’s treasure was buried did not erase its existence. It simply meant that I couldn’t see it; but, the squirrel knew.

It can be tempting to assume God is nowhere to be found when we feel buried beneath the heavy weight of circumstances. Life certainly has the ability to resemble winter’s harsh and bitter season.

However, I am reminded—often—that my inability to see God does not erase His existence. When I’ve buried the Word deep within, the Holy Spirit is able to bring to my memory and remind me of who He is—so it becomes easier to find where He is.

“But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you” (John 14:26 AMP).

We must never be fooled when our memory fails us or our treasure becomes consumed by another, such as with time and circumstance. the treasure is still there. He’s always there. 

3. The Need for MULTIPLE TREASURE RESOURCES.

In the same way the squirrel had buried multiple sources of supplies, we can do the same.

We can set up a system of support for the moments when we simply can’t draw from our memory bank the Word treasures we’ve hidden; or for—as the enemy likes to do—times when what has been planted is stolen (Mark 4:1-8).

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, NLT).

During the storms of winter, when it can be tempting to isolate, there is treasure to be found in community.

God is your main Source, but where, or who, are the other sources in your life to offer life-sustaining spiritual nourishment when you most need it?

So on those dark days, ask yourself: what’s my treasure and where have I buried it?

Kolleen Lucariello, #TheABCGirl, is the author of #beYOU: Change Your Identity One Letter at a Time and is the Co-Director of Activ8Her, Inc. She is passionate to every woman realize her identity in Christ and live accordingly. Kolleen and her hubby, Pat, make their home in Central New York. She’s the mom of three grown children and Mimi to six incredible grands. For more information about Kolleen, visit www.speakkolleen.com

Graphic adapted courtesy of Alexa at Pixabay.

A Mom's Extravagant Love

Rebecca Barlow Jordan is an encouraging story-teller, and I wanted her to share this special Mother's Day UPLIFT as an example of a mom's extravagant, forgiving love. 

Rebecca begins with a scripture about the greatest love of all.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 TNIV).

She continues ...

Much of my husband’s childhood years he spent on a lake in West Texas where his parents and grandparents owned a fishing camp. Like all boys, Larry loved to play “buried treasure.” The sand around the camp offered multiple opportunities for realistic pirating adventures.

But one fateful day, Larry learned a powerful lesson he never forgot. Here’s his story: 

“At the fishing camp, people were always coming and going: stocking up on groceries, searching out the best fishing lures, and renting campsites nearby to set up tents. Mom kept a small file box in the house in which she saved silver dollars.

One day I spied that box and saw ‘Capt. Kidd’ and ‘Treasure’ written all over it. I opened it up and counted fifty shiny coins—not much in today’s economy, but a huge sum to my parents in those days—and definitely a realistic treasure for a pirate. I thought it would be cool to ‘bury’ that treasure box, so I took it out to an empty tent behind our house where I was playing with some other kids. We had great fun pretending we were burying our treasure inside that tent.

“But as boys often do, I got distracted and forgot about the box of silver dollars. Two or three days later, Mom asked about the box. Suddenly I remembered that I had left them in the tent. So I hurried out back, confident I would be the pirate hero and retrieve the buried treasure for the ‘damsel in distress.’

“But when I looked in the tent, there was no box. I pawed through every corner as sand flew in every direction. No box. No treasure. No silver dollars. And no pirate hero. I returned to face my fate from a mom who was now greatly ‘in distress.’

“I’ll never forget my mother’s words. She didn’t punish me. She didn’t chew me out. She didn’t take away my fishing or pirating privileges. She said two things that left a dramatic impression on me. With obvious disappointment, she said, ‘We could have fed our family for a month with that money.’ She let her words hang in the air for a moment, then reached out to hug me. Then she said, ‘But I forgive you.’

“An enemy pirate couldn’t have sliced me any deeper. Another ‘pirate’ had obviously stolen the treasure, but the responsibility lay directly in my hands.”

Through a mom’s forgiveness, she has the divine opportunity to model Christ’s own love to her children.

Badgering, abusing, screaming, berating—these are not God’s tools. They’re more like “enemy” pirate behavior. Certainly, appropriate discipline is needed when outright disobedience challenges parental authority.

But Larry’s mom wisely understood how to drive home the consequences of a boy’s foolish mistake and childish behavior without wounding his character. Her words stung, and made him realize the extreme carelessness of his actions. But it was his mom’s forgiveness that taught him the most about extravagant love.

Only God can teach that kind of love. He is extravagant love, personified.

Almost two thousand years ago, he saw the extreme “pirating” of his world. The ones he created didn’t understand their true purpose and instead chose their own way through sinful behavior. The cost to God was overwhelming. He knew the ultimate consequences of sin. He didn’t excuse it. But he took his most extravagant, expensive treasure—his own Son—and offered it as a gift to his world in distress. And with a holy whisper of grace, he said, “What you’ve done is not acceptable. But I forgive you.”

And those who still hear him and receive his extravagant love and forgiveness will never forget it. They will never be the same again.

In what ways did your mom show you extravagant love? How have you demonstrated forgiveness to your own children? How has God shown that kind of love and forgiveness to you?

© 2010, Rebecca Barlow Jordan, Day-votions® for Mothers (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan), All Rights Reserved. Used with Permission.

Rebecca Barlow Jordan is the author of 11 books, including the Day-votions® women’s series, and 40 Days in God’s Presence. Her book, Day-votions® for Mothers, is a great gift choice for Mother's Day or any day! She has also written over 2000 articles, devotions, and greeting cards and writes an encouraging weekly blog. As a minister’s wife she lives in East Texas and has two grown children and four grandchildren. Find out more about Rebecca at rebeccabarlowjordan.com.

Graphic of Silver Dollars from RandPeckAntiques.blogspot.com, used with permission.