Faith Like...Mice?!

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I bought two small mice as pets. We both wanted something to love and care for, but couldn’t quite commit to a dog or a cat. They were cheap, cute, and the store had tons of them! Since we bought them, Benji and Rosemary, both girls, have reminded me so much about I relate to God, and how I want to relate to God.

Benji is a small, thin, black mouse. She runs on the wheel often, an only eats what is necessary. Rosemary, a chubby white mouse, eats whenever she is awake. Though it might seem as if Benji is already on my good side for being so fit and taking such good care of herself (she also takes good care of Rosemary, acting as the older sister figure while Rose sleeps), she also is very jumpy and still has yet to sit willingly in my hand. She has moved from only sniffing from afar for a quick second to leaning onto my hand with her front paws while her back paws are as far away from my hand as possible to crawling fully but briefly onto my hand if it is very still and very low to the ground. Though she doesn’t usually seem frightened, she does clearly lack confidence in me and treats my husband the same way.

Rosemary, the borderline glutton, is the relational mouse. She loves to sleep close to her sister, and excitedly crawls into my palm as soon as she notices it (mice are mostly blind, you know). She is the one who will likely fall asleep in my hand because she is so content to just BE with me. She will sit and sniff and crawl and sleep – my hand is her favorite place to be. It is wonderful and fills me with so much joy whenever she is near me. Though Benji is not quite as trusting yet, every step she takes in that direction also brings me joy! I love for my mice to be near me.

I think this is good depiction of how God feels about us. We are so nervous and awkward about talking to Him and being in His presence, but He enjoys us! Like Benji, we lack the confidence and are overly cautious when there is no reason at all to question our safety or His motives. He longs for us to be like Rosemary, sitting with Him, “squeaking” with delight and being content! He loves it when we get braver but is saddened when we move away in distrust. And He rejoices when we come near!

Sadly I am so much like Benji. I feel uncomfortable in my Father’s presence, unsure what to do or say, just ready to be done as soon as possible. How much His heart must break when we treat Him that way! I pray I will learn to trust Him more, learn to love Him more. That I am become so content in His presence I could just live in His hands. I’m not quite there, but I can pray and strive. And He will never love me less for my imperfections, but only love me more.