Valuable Lessons from Field Mice

The one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm.
- Proverbs 17: 27 (The Message/ReMix)

If a black cat crosses your path, you’re headed for bad luck. If your nose itches, someone is talking about you. If your right eye itches, then something good is going to happen. If your left eye itches, something bad will come your way. If the palm of your right hand itches, someone is going to give you money. Perhaps you are familiar with these timeless myths, folklore [traditional beliefs, practices, legends, and tales of people - transmitted orally], or superstitions; then again, maybe you’re not. Yet, are they worth listening to or reading about? Here is my rationale or response to the one that says, “If your left eye itches, something bad will come your way.”

On this past Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010, news came from California that my sister-in-law, Rosetta, was scheduled for open-heart surgery within 24 hours. Via the telephone, this was certainly bad; bad news especially for someone who has gone through such tremendous health issues as Rose has had to go through. I tell you, she is one strong woman of faith. When the report about her condition reached everyone in the Madison, Henderson, and Jones clan, I recall someone saying to me, “you know, my left eye had been jumping like crazy way before the news came about Rose. I knew bad luck was coming from somewhere…I felt that it was in our family.” {I thought} Wait a minute; this isn’t faith-in-God talk! Hog wash! But on the other hand, I couldn’t figure out why the muscle over my left eye had been twitching [moving suddenly] the day before. Now, the muscle over my left was twitching not my left eye (pupil) itching. What’s the difference between a twitch and an itch? Nevertheless, the news about Rosetta hit home and whether there is any truth from my left eye twitching or itching, the move that was necessary was to pray and believe God.

Instead of relying on a folklore, myth, or superstition, the Bible had constructive wisdom to rely on. Somehow, the thought came to mind concerning “speaking the right words at the right time and the consequences they could bring.” As I reflected on it, I happened to pick up a small paperback book that the Rev. Mel Burton sent me. I remembered telling him how much I enjoyed the first Sunday in July, 2010, when he stepped in as the new Pastor at Thrift United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC. Anyway, I especially enjoyed his moment with the Children and how the material he used was outstanding.

The children’s book was entitled “Frederick, ” the little field mouse. Written skillfully by Leo Lionni, it is a story of Frederick that highlighted the triumph of the spirit. It detailed how a chatty family of field mice lived in an old stone wall, which wasn’t too far from a barn and special places for food. But in time, the farmers moved away and the possibility of food began to vanish. So, all of them began to gather whatever morsels of food they could find. All four of the mice worked hard except Frederick, who was deemed as a dreamer. “Why don’t you work, Frederick,” they asked. His reply was, “I gather sun rays for the cold dark winter days.”

On several other occasions [while hard work was going on and Frederick stared out in space], he said, “I gather colors…for the winter is gray. I gather words; for the winter days are long and many and we’ll run out of things to say.”

My ears were tuned in when Pastor Burton hit a high note of excitement. “The best part,” he said, “Was when winter set in and there was plenty of food stored away. The family of mice had a good time telling stories and eating themselves away. But they ran out of food and were about ready to give up. Didn’t feel like chatting. Then they remembered the words Frederick had said:

Who scatters snowflakes? Who melts the ice?
Who spoils the weather? Who makes the ice?
Who grows the four-leaf clover in June?
Who dims the daylight? Who lights the moon?
Four little field mice who live in the sky.
Four little field mice…like you and I.
One is the Springmouse who turns on the showers.
Then comes the Summer who paints the flowers.
The Fallmouse is next with walnuts and wheat/
And Winter is last…with cold feet.
Aren’t we lucky the seasons are four?
Think of a year with one less…or one more!”

Pastor Burton clearly emphasized that the story psychologically suggested that when hard times come, healthy memories could tide you over. Frederick, the dreamer, was a good example. This extraordinary mouse was unmoved even as his integrity was questioned. He kept himself mentally alert by envisioning wholesome images and words that would lift the heart.

Pastor Burton’s sermon was based on the impact of encouraging words – spoken at the right time. He highlighted three important lessons to think on: 1) someone always cares for you, 2) we must first and foremost lift up the name of Jesus Christ, and 3) God works through people in remarkable ways. In the first lesson, he brought out the fact that in his early school days, he was earmarked as a participant in a scholastic event. There were four awards given out at the end of the competition; one was for participation, which he received. But his teacher was highly upset because he didn’t get the top award. She cared about him. The second lesson dealt with an experience he had with taking a youth group to the Blue Ridge Mountains (?) and they came across a wooden cross that was leaning heavily from a vertical position. Working together as a team to correct the situation, he learned that all of them saw the need to spiritually lift up the name of Jesus. And finally, an anonymous person provided food for the church with a large financial gift. This drew him to conclude that God works with people who are not bent on receiving recognition for what they do.

"The one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm" (Proverbs 17: 27) has the makings of being compared to a mythical saying or hand me down folklore, but instead it comes from Solomon, King of Israel, the son of David – the man after God’s own heart. However, Frederick, the little field mouse provided a value lesson, which is: divine knowledge is given by God for the purpose of being a blessing to others, Your effectiveness comes as a result of being constantly in his presence. Selah