The children caught field mice on the farm and thought it would be fun, as they had seen the cats do. When visiting their cousin, they showed her how to catch mice. However, when their cousin kissed one, it bit her. Later, the mother was upset to learn the children had been catching mice, as mice can carry diseases. She forbade them from catching mice again. It is important to treat animals with respect.

1. TALES OF FARM FRIENDS
THE MOUSE THAT
WASN’T A PRINCE
During a short period of our childhood, with our bare hands my brothers and I
would catch field mice that we found on the farm. We had observed the farm cats
catching mice, and we thought it would be fun to catch them and then let them go.

2. When visiting our cousin, we
introduced her to the practice
of catching field mice. Our cousin
looked at a mouse she caught
and thought it was so cute, she
kissed it on the nose! How did the
mouse react? It bit her!
Later we told our mother,
thinking our cousin would be
corrected for having been so
silly as to kiss a mouse. But our
mother hadn’t known we were
catching mice and was justifiably
upset at all of us. She explained
that mice, even cute field
mice, often carry dangerous
diseases. We were forbidden
from ever catching mice again.
It’s important to treat animals
with respect. These mice
weren’t causing harm, and it
was wrong for us to chase and
frighten them.
“The righteous care for
the needs of their animals”
(Proverbs 12:10 NIV).
S&S link: Christian Life and Faith:
Bible Knowledge: Creation-1b
Authored by Christi S. Lynch. Illustrations by Leila
Shae. Design by Stefan Merour.
Published by My Wonder Studio.
Copyright © 2016 by The Family International