"He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever." Psalm 136:25
His love endures forever." Psalm 136:25
Dear family of friends,
I found Little Orphan Chuckie in a church park in uptown Charlotte on my lunch hour. I had gone there to eat my bagged eatables from our supper before. At first I thought he was dead, since there seemed to be no life left in him, as he lay on the ground.
Once I had finished my lunch, and having read another chapter out of Morris Ruddick's great book, "The Heart of a King", I had to make a decision. I didn't want to leave this young one out there by himself (no mama or nest anywhere in sight), so I put him in my plastic container that had held my goulash leftovers. I first laid some Monkey Grass that I pulled out of the ground, and added my napkin to help keep him warm.
When I had gotten back to the office I added more soft napkin paper I had in my desk drawer.
After work it was suggested by my daughter that I try and see if PetSmart, the local dog, cat and more pet store, would care for him. They said no, and suggested I call a wild animal control office.
I did call one listed in the county, whom I thought could help, but he said he only removed unwanted squirrels from homes - not take them in. So I took Little Orphan Chuckie home with me. He was still sound asleep. I made up a nice cardboard bed, with paper towels and such, until the next step was determined the following day.
And yes, I had been careful not to have Zoe Girl Martin, our miniature Dachshund, know we had company. She likes to sleep herself anyway.
When I checked on him later that night Little Orphan Chuckie seemed to be doing OK. I would try again to find him the proper care he needed. I hoped he would hang on until then.
.JPG)
In the morning I brought Chuckie with me to work, knowing that he needed food and water, but not knowing how to give it to him. He wouldn't suck on the sponge I had tried the night before. If only his mama had been around, but maybe she had been killed by a car or something. I didn't know.
During my lunchtime I checked on him where I had kept him in my car, in the cool parking deck. He was still sleeping in the small box lined with the toilet tissue. I felt his own warmness as I held him in my warm hand. I was thankful for the Lord giving him continued life.
After I got off work at 4 pm, I took Little Orphan Chuckie first to the Humane Society, a few miles down the road. They said they only took in dogs and cats, but gave me a map to the Charlotte-Mecklenberg Animal Care and Control Center, near the Charlotte airport. So I headed there.
On the way I held Chuckie in my hand, to keep him warm. His heart was barely moving, but at least it still was. I spoke life into him, asking the Lord Jesus to keep him alive so someone could really care for him. I prayed; I breathed onto him; I spoke the Lord's Name into his being - believing for his ongoing life.
Once I got to the care center, the lady at the counter had a young girl take Chuckie from my hand, and then they would contact a rehabilatator. I asked if he would live, and she said they would try as best they could.
My heart was a bit heavy as I left. I know this was just a little baby squirrel, maybe just a few days or week old if that, but my attachment to him was more than a guy my age, at 58, would normally have. Maybe it was just the Lord showing me that His heart is for all His Creation - those unborn, those living a hurtful life, or many having grown old and then being all alone in those aged years.
Maybe He was showing me that my having a heart for this little one would continue to enlarge my heart for His full purposes for all creation. I am grateful for that.
Maybe He had something bigger in mind, and this was just a step in that direction that I needed to take. I didn't want to miss His direction. You know, many missed the little baby born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, because they were expecting more of a grand entry from the long-awaited Messiah.
On the way home, the Christian song of MercyMe, "I Can Only Imagine" came on the radio. The Light 106.9 FM radio announcer in Asheville, NC said his grandfather had just passed. He choked up. I couldn't hold it much either.
And then, as is so common with the Lord, out of His abundant love, there was a beautiful cloud formation in the sky. That spoke a lot to me.
After all is said and done, the amazing love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, shines down upon all of us. He shares new creative life with us daily - in the small things and in the large. We just have to have our eyes, and heart, open to see them.
Be blessed in sharing your love today with someone. Be blessed in knowing of His love for you.
Ahava (love in Hebrew) to my family of friends,
Steve Martin
Founder/President
This little incident was just an entry way into something bigger the Lord had planned. I will share that in my next Ahava Love Letter (#71). Just as a hint: Oskar.
Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.
Please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless Israel with our humanitarian ministry.
Tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.
Go here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards:www.loveforhispeople.org/support
If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available).
Contribution checks can be sent to:
Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box 414 Pineville, NC 28134
Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)
Please share this Ahava Love Letter with your friends.
E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com
martinlighthouse@gmail.com
Facebook pages: Steve Martin and Love For His People
Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter
YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)
Ahava Love Letter #70 “Little Orphan Chuckie" ©2013 Steve Martin
Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (08/22/13 Thursday at 7:555 am in Charlotte, NC)
All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog:
Here are the last few:
Demons & Fire Trucks (#69)
I Like Mike (#68)
Disappointed with Small Beginnings? (#67)
Rise Again (#66)
The Cities (#65)
How can You Mend A Broken Heart (#64)
Anxious (#63)
Hidden (#62)
Get Back in the Boat (#61)
Need Money? (#60)
Rejected? (#59)
In Your Building – Guard Against Distractions (#58)
Connections (#57)
Your Name (#56)
Lost, But Not Forgotten Friends (#55)
