If You Give A Mouse A Book... - Christy Bass Adams

The New Tenants

We have been out of our mobile home for two months now. Each week we slowly sort through rooms and bring over the few items we want to keep. This weekend was our last big “hoorah” as we finished sorting the last room in the house.

Since we moved out, the electricity has been disconnected and some new, furry tenants have moved in—you know, the big eared, long tail variety. We’ve had problems with mice over the years because it was an older mobile home, but we never let them move in and set up camp like they have now.

After my husband moved the couch, I noticed a pile of shredded paper. Then I spotted a book. As I made my way over to the book, I realized the pages were chewed up. In fact, the bottom, right corner of the book, for about three inches, was completely chewed along with the pages behind the cover. Ironically, the name of the book was “If You Give A Mouse A Brownie”.

I sat there and laughed. Took pictures. And laughed some more. “A brownie, heck, if you give a mouse a book, he simply devours it,” I said out loud.

As I sat there laughing, I thought about how many hours I have spent in the house cleaning and sorting these last two months. Not once has that mouse shown his face to me even though I’ve detected all the signs of his presence. I know he’s a real problem based on what I’ve found left behind, but I have no idea if he’s big or small, an actual mouse or a rat, a packrat or a field rat. Based on the mess, we could have a full-on family reunion happening in there.

Mice in My Heart

Just like I see the signs of a rodent in the trailer, I’m seeing all the signs that there is something going on in my emotional house as well. All the change, reaching a huge goal, starting new practices, learning fresh routines—this sounds well and good. But it also means me slowing down, not pushing an extra 20-30 hours a week on construction, and having to deal with three years of pent up emotions and frustrations.

For three years, I’ve had to say no to many great opportunities, because of the house project. For three years we’ve been living in transition. For three years we’ve gone through cancer, covid, job changes, depression, doctors, death of grandparents, and death of four pets—all while spending every extra second building this new home.

I’m seeing signs of weariness when I expected excitement. Signs of depression when I expected exhilaration. Signs of brokenness instead of wholeness. This last year I published my first two books and finished this huge project we now call home. I should be on cloud nine.

But for three years there have been mice living in my emotional world. I’ve seen all the signs but didn’t have the time to clean out my heart and find where they were living. Just like I’m finally finishing up the mobile home clean out, life is slowing down enough to work on myself too.

Time for a Mouse Hunt

Three years seems like a long time, but maybe as you’re reading this you realize you’ve never stopped to check your heart. Years and years of stuffing and pushing aside has allowed mice in every area your life. You see the signs that something is off, but haven’t slowed down enough to hunt for the rat.

Let’s take time this week and examine our hearts. All the signs are there, but until we intentionally take time to look for the little varmints, we won’t figure out why we have such unexpected reactions and emotions. Time for a mouse hunt!

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalms 139:23-24 (NIV)