| Toon, Spiritual Squirrel |
"Toon" The Real Life Squirrel
He was the very first orphan Eastern Gray Squirrel that "Mr. Ritchie" and wife, Bonnie, ever raised from a baby. "Toon" came into their home shortly after "Sassy", their Flying Squirrel, died.
Toon was fed, cared for and loved very much by "Mr. Ritchie" and Bonnie. At that time, Bonnie worked at home and spent hours and hours playing and wrestling with Toon. Toon just loved all the attention he was receiving and he became quite the comic.
After Toon was released back into the wild, he would come up to their breakfast nook window, beat on it with his front paws until they opened the window, and then he would come into the house. "Spoiled" describes Toon best! As "Mr. Ritchie" explains,
"Even to this day, Toon expects to be first in line when pecans are being given out. If not, he will climb up on my shoulder and do that sweet, squirrel grunting noise in my ear to coax a pecan from me. Does it work? Of Course it works!!!"
"Toon" Spiritual Squirrel
He was born the day "Mr. Ritchie" was thrust into delivering a message to 92 Junior Church kids at his local church. (Read the Chatter Valley Story)
Using a Beanie Baby squirrel to help illustrate his story, "Mr. Ritchie" began to explain to the children how precious Toon was to him. He told the children,
"Toon is loved so much. When Toon jumps on my shoulder, I can smell that sweet, woodsy scent about him. I can touch and feel his soft, warm fur and I can hear him doing that "squirrel love grunt" in my ear. When I am away from home, I carry Toon with me in my heart. No matter where I am when I think of him, my mind and heart immediately give me a picture of him freely jumping through the tree canopy back home. I always carry him with me in my heart and I know that he is waiting for me back home. I miss him so much if I don't see him, or talk to him, for just one day!"
As "Mr. Ritchie" paused, the Lord touched his heart and he continued,
"You know kids, that's the same way I feel about Jesus! Even though I can't smell Him, and I can't touch or feel Him (like touching His hand), and I can't hear Him (like the way Toon talks to me), nor can I see Him (like Toon jumping through the trees), I always carry Jesus with me in my heart, wherever I go. I know that He lives in Heaven and He is waiting for me to come home, when my work for Him on this earth is done. I especially miss Him so much if I don't talk with Him in prayer for just one day!
On that day, "Toon, Spiritual Squirrel", was born!
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