Sammy the Squirrel Learns about Salvation - A Children's Story

Sammy the Squirrel Learns about Salvation

By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller

Moral of the Story:
Faith begins when we believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord. Salvation comes through both faith and confession. When we speak the truth of God’s love, it takes root in our hearts. We are saved not by our works but by the power of belief. Confessing our faith gives life to what we hold inside. Jesus lives so that we can live with Him forever. When we trust in God’s promise, we are never alone. To believe and to speak His name is to open the door to eternal life.

In a quiet forest filled with oak and maple trees, there lived a cheerful little squirrel named Sammy. He was quick, clever, and full of energy. Every day, Sammy collected acorns, leapt between branches, and greeted all his forest friends with a happy chirp.

But one cool autumn morning, Sammy sat on a rock near the river, watching the leaves fall, and felt something he couldn’t explain. He had everything a squirrel could want. food, friends, and freedom, yet his heart felt empty.

That same morning, Pastor Owl flew to the forest clearing for his weekly gathering. All the animals loved it when Pastor Owl came because he taught them stories from the Bible in ways they could understand.

Sammy scampered close and listened carefully as Pastor Owl opened his Bible. “Today,” the wise owl began, “we will learn about faith and salvation. Romans chapter ten, verse nine, says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Sammy’s little ears perked up. “Saved? From what?”

Pastor Owl smiled. “Saved from being lost. Saved from sin. Saved from living without purpose or peace. Salvation is the gift of eternal life that God gives to everyone who believes.”

Sammy frowned. “But I’m a good squirrel. I share my food, I help my friends, and I don’t steal from anyone. Isn’t that enough?”

Pastor Owl shook his head kindly. “Being good is wonderful, Sammy, but it’s not what saves us. Salvation comes only from believing in Jesus, knowing that He died for us and rose again. We can’t earn it; we must accept it.”

Sammy sat quietly, thinking about the owl’s words. “So, I just have to believe?”

“Believe,” Pastor Owl said, “and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. That’s how you make it real in your heart.”

That night, Sammy couldn’t sleep. He climbed to the highest branch and looked up at the stars. The forest was peaceful, but inside he felt a stirring. He whispered into the night, “Jesus, if You can hear me, I believe in You. I believe You are Lord. I believe You rose from the dead. Please live in my heart and make me new.”

The moment he spoke those words, something changed inside him. It wasn’t loud or dramatic. It was gentle, a warmth spreading through his chest, like sunlight breaking through the trees after a long storm. For the first time, Sammy felt truly loved and safe.

The next morning, as the animals gathered for breakfast near the big oak, Sammy couldn’t contain his excitement. “Everyone! I have something to tell you!”

The others turned curiously.

“I prayed last night,” Sammy said, his tail twitching with joy. “I told Jesus that I believe in Him, that He is Lord, and I asked Him to live in my heart. I feel different inside. Happier. Lighter. Like my heart is full of light.”

Pastor Owl smiled warmly. “That’s the power of salvation, Sammy. You’ve invited Jesus into your life. Now His Spirit lives within you.”

From that day forward, Sammy was never the same. He still gathered acorns and played in the forest, but now he did everything with purpose. When he shared food, he thought about how Jesus had shared His love. When he helped others, he remembered that faith without love is empty. And when he saw someone feeling lonely or afraid, he told them about the peace he had found.

One day, Sammy met a grumpy old hedgehog named Henry. Henry was always complaining about the cold, about the food, and about life itself. Most animals avoided him, but Sammy decided to visit him anyway.

“Go away,” Henry grumbled. “I don’t want company.”

Sammy smiled gently. “That’s okay. I’ll just sit here a while. Did you know God loves you, Henry?”

The hedgehog scowled. “Why would He love me? I’m mean and prickly.”

Sammy chuckled. “That’s what I thought once, too, that I had to be perfect for God to love me. But He loves us anyway. He sent Jesus to save us because we can’t save ourselves.”

Henry’s eyes softened. “You really believe that?”

“I do,” Sammy said. “And I told Him so. Romans ten nine says, ‘If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.’”

Henry was quiet for a long time. Then he whispered, “Maybe I want that too.”

Sammy nodded. “Then tell Him, Henry. Say it out loud, and mean it in your heart.”

Together, they bowed their heads. And in that simple moment, the hedgehog prayed, and his life began to change, just like Sammy’s had.

From then on, Sammy was known not only as the happiest squirrel in the forest but also as the one who helped others find joy through Jesus. His faith spread like sunshine through the trees, warming every heart it touched.

Poem:

Believe in your heart, speak with your voice,
In Jesus our Savior, make the choice.
Through faith we’re saved, through grace we stand,
Held forever in God’s hand.

Not by our works, not by our might,
But by His love that brings us light.
Confess His name, your soul will be free,
For Jesus lives eternally.

Discussion Questions:

1.     What did Sammy learn about what it truly means to be saved?

2.     Why is it important to both believe in your heart and speak your faith out loud?

3.     How can you share your faith like Sammy did with Henry?