Well, actually mice. And more than I first had thought.
See, my front door has a gap at the bottom between it and the floor, and one of the tiles on the floor has a piece missing, so there is a nice sized hole for mice to come in through to "visit" me. (It's really cool when I am watching TV in the evening and catch site of one out of the corner of my eye.) I ran one out the door Monday night and started looking around and found evidence of activity (you know, droppings). So Tuesday I bought 2 boxes of sticky traps (4 traps total) and placed them in 4 areas I figured would be the best for catching mice. And whad-uh-yah know, I heard a squeaking well before bedtime!! CAUGHT ONE!!!! And it was on the trap I had placed just outside the door. I left him where he was just in case he had invited friends over, but I was hoping that would be the end of the mice. Nope. As I got around and ready for bed there was another mouse on another sticky trap. He had evidently sidestepped his cousin at the door and obviously didn't get the hint. 2 mice caught before bed!!!
Yesterday morning I disposed of the uninvited guests and went about my day. When I got home I placed a trap just inside the door, right in front of the hole. I really thought I had rid myself of rodents the night before, but I wanted to make sure. I went to bed confident that there would be no more mice since none had come in during the evening as they had the previous evening.
As I got out of bed this morning and made my groggy way into the hall I turned and glanced toward the front door.... "Is that a rat?" I thought to myself. As I turned on the light I realized it was not a rat but 2 mice side by side. Yep, that is now a total of 4 mice in 2 nights. I knew it was a good idea to put the trap in front of the hole. They evidently had run right in and gotten stopped in their tracks.
See, my front door has a gap at the bottom between it and the floor, and one of the tiles on the floor has a piece missing, so there is a nice sized hole for mice to come in through to "visit" me. (It's really cool when I am watching TV in the evening and catch site of one out of the corner of my eye.) I ran one out the door Monday night and started looking around and found evidence of activity (you know, droppings). So Tuesday I bought 2 boxes of sticky traps (4 traps total) and placed them in 4 areas I figured would be the best for catching mice. And whad-uh-yah know, I heard a squeaking well before bedtime!! CAUGHT ONE!!!! And it was on the trap I had placed just outside the door. I left him where he was just in case he had invited friends over, but I was hoping that would be the end of the mice. Nope. As I got around and ready for bed there was another mouse on another sticky trap. He had evidently sidestepped his cousin at the door and obviously didn't get the hint. 2 mice caught before bed!!!
Yesterday morning I disposed of the uninvited guests and went about my day. When I got home I placed a trap just inside the door, right in front of the hole. I really thought I had rid myself of rodents the night before, but I wanted to make sure. I went to bed confident that there would be no more mice since none had come in during the evening as they had the previous evening.
As I got out of bed this morning and made my groggy way into the hall I turned and glanced toward the front door.... "Is that a rat?" I thought to myself. As I turned on the light I realized it was not a rat but 2 mice side by side. Yep, that is now a total of 4 mice in 2 nights. I knew it was a good idea to put the trap in front of the hole. They evidently had run right in and gotten stopped in their tracks.
After I got ready for the day I disposed of the vermin and started wondering how many mice will attempt to violate the privacy of my home tonight. I still have one more trap and will definitely place it at the front door.
I have caught 4 mice because I prepared myself to do so. In a round-a-bout way it makes me think about serving our Lord. We have to be prepared to do so when opportunities arise. Many times we know ahead of time that we will be serving Him in some way before we do it. Maybe it's preparing to teach Sunday School or Bible study. Maybe it's preparing to go to the mission field, or pack a shoe box for Christmas, or serve a meal at a shelter, or.... You get the idea. We prepare ourselves when we KNOW we will be in a situation to serve God.
BUT, what about when we DON'T know we will be serving Him? There are times when opportunities arise to share the love of Christ with a person who is hurting, to share the Word of Christ with someone who is searching, to serve our Father at the drop of a hat, and we must be prepared even for that. We must be prepared to serve Him when we are not expecting to.
The following verses tell us as much.
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
1 Peter 3:15
"Be ready to spread the word whether or not the time is right. Point out errors, warn people, and encourage them. Be very patient when you teach."
2 Timothy 4:2
Be prepared...
NO MATTER WHAT!
NO MATTER WHEN!
NO MATTER WHERE!
NO MATTER WHO!
Be prepared to serve the Lord at all times! Stay in the Word! Be in prayer! Serve always!
I have caught 4 mice because I prepared myself to do so. In a round-a-bout way it makes me think about serving our Lord. We have to be prepared to do so when opportunities arise. Many times we know ahead of time that we will be serving Him in some way before we do it. Maybe it's preparing to teach Sunday School or Bible study. Maybe it's preparing to go to the mission field, or pack a shoe box for Christmas, or serve a meal at a shelter, or.... You get the idea. We prepare ourselves when we KNOW we will be in a situation to serve God.
BUT, what about when we DON'T know we will be serving Him? There are times when opportunities arise to share the love of Christ with a person who is hurting, to share the Word of Christ with someone who is searching, to serve our Father at the drop of a hat, and we must be prepared even for that. We must be prepared to serve Him when we are not expecting to.
The following verses tell us as much.
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
1 Peter 3:15
"Be ready to spread the word whether or not the time is right. Point out errors, warn people, and encourage them. Be very patient when you teach."
2 Timothy 4:2
Be prepared...
NO MATTER WHAT!
NO MATTER WHEN!
NO MATTER WHERE!
NO MATTER WHO!
Be prepared to serve the Lord at all times! Stay in the Word! Be in prayer! Serve always!
Well said!
ReplyDeletep.s. really enjoyed the photo. I think it is flickr worthy - nice lighting, very dramatic, you've "captured" the essence of these mice.
Thanks Kris.
ReplyDeleteI was extremely pleased with the outcome of the photograph. The mice were very easy to work with. Very cooperative. (The fact that I had bashed them with a shovel handle could have something to do with it though.)