Once upon a time there was a baby squirrel. The baby squirrel had lost its way and could not find its squirrel family. A new family of chip monks found the baby squirrel and let it live in their home. The new family was really busy and really didn’t have a lot of time to spend with the squirrel, but he was happy just to have a place to live and would do just about anything to help the chip monks. He was pretty different and kind of stood out but squirrel tried real hard to fit in and be like the chip monks. The chip monks had a lot of good information that they shared with squirrel and week after week squirrel would sit and try to learn from the chip monks, but he was different and he knew that. Squirrel looked around and saw that this chip monk house was probably the best chip monk house around. However, squirrel still really longed to fit in and feel like he belonged.
One day the squirrel’s new family announced that they were moving and not taking the squirrel with them. He was very sad and confused. He thought he was part of the family. They didn’t treat him real nice sometimes or spend a lot of time with him, but he was happy just to be a part of the group. He could live with that and did, but now they were leaving him and going away and he didn’t know what to do! At first he was really upset and begged to go with them. He asked them to please not leave him, but they said they had to go, he could not come with them and out the door they went. He knew that the chip monks were not perfect, but he never expected to be abandoned like that.
Squirrel was alone again. There was silence and he became very sad sitting in the chip monk house all by himself. For a while he just sat there stunned and lonely. He still couldn’t believe they had just left him like that. Soon another chip monk family came knocking at the door. "Could we live here?" they asked. "Sure", said squirrel. "Could I be part of your family?" squirrel inquired. "Ok" they said. Squirrel was really excited and thought maybe these new chip monks would accept and love him. Some of them seemed pretty nice but they kept their distance from him, him being a squirrel and all.
So it began again. Squirrel began to try hard to fit and be accepted by the new chip monk family. He swept the floors. He took care of their baby chip monks. He cooked for them and cleaned up after them. When they injured themselves he’d care for their injuries. However, the chip monks still treated Squirrel as if he was too different and wouldn’t include him in their fun and games. They didn’t really talk to him or spend time with him, although they didn’t mind him doing their chores for them. Squirrel just kept trying to have a good attitude and do what he was told.
One day Squirrel tripped and fell and hurt his tail very badly. The chip monks showed a bit of concern but then immediately asked him if he’d mind watching the baby chip monks for them. They said he could do it because he didn’t need a tail to clean up after their babies. Squirrel reluctantly agreed even though he was in pain. Squirrel just wanted them to love him so badly. Poor squirrel, he was hurting, but he struggled to do what they asked and tried hard not to complain. Week after week it became more and more difficult to do what they asked. The pain in his tail really bothered him, but so did his heart. His heart was breaking now. He went to the head chip monk and told him about his tail and his broken heart and asked could he please help him. The head chip monk said he’d get back to him on that, but he never did. Maybe chip monks just don’t know how to love squirrels he thought.
At this point Squirrel decided to leave the chip monk house. He wasn’t a chip monk after all and he thought that maybe he’d never get these chip monks to think much of him. All the work and dedication in the world just didn’t seem to make much of a difference and they seemed to not notice his ailing tail. It seemed like they just pretended not to see the pain he was in and when he tried to tell them they'd change the subject or walk away ignoring him. They acted like they were too busy to help him. He didn’t want to be alone and he truly loved the chip monks but to continue to do the work of the chip monks was just too painful and he was growing very tired. He became angry for a while, but he forgave the chip monks, because they are chip monks and he couldn’t expect them to accept his squirrelishness.
Squirrel then moved on and left the chip monk house. It was the right thing to do. Squirrel still gets sad sometimes about it though, because he really did love those chip monks. The chip monks are kind to squirrel when they seem him and still don't understand why he needed to leave the chip monk house. He can't seem to explain it to them very well either.
Squirrel began to realize that he needed to be with other squirrels. He realized that he needed to be among squirrels that loved him exactly for who he is, just a simple squirrel with a beat up tail and a heart that is still healing.
I hope that Squirrel can find a home one day.
Squirrel=The Broken, Lonely, Unpopular, Unattractive and the Lost
House of Chip monks=Religious Systems
House of Squirrels=The Body of Christ
Matthew 25:35-40
For I hungered, and ye gave Me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took Me in; naked, and ye clothed Me; I was sick, and ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.' Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, `Lord, when saw we Thee hungering and fed Thee, or thirsty and gave Thee drink. When saw we Thee a stranger and took Thee in, or naked and clothed Thee? Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee?' And the King shall answer and say unto them, `Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.'
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