Mouse Therapy

Sometimes we need a distraction to help us forget about our problems. Otherwise, we may just get stuck and obsess about what is bothering us. So every once in a while God places something before us that we totally don’t expect, but have to deal with right in that moment. Whatever this problem is, it cannot be ignored. 

I had one such distraction happen in my life very recently. This distraction took my mind away from all of the physical pain I was experiencing. You see, I have had some physical issues recently. For one thing, my left hip disintegrated, so I had a hip replacement. This is a major surgery, requiring 8 – 10 weeks of recovery. I had to take a leave from work and it was a big deal. The pain before the surgery was unbearable. The surgery was a life saver. I felt worlds better afterwards. There was still pain to deal with, which I did, but I was much better. 

If this wasn’t enough, the tendonitis in my right shoulder decided to pay me another visit. I had experienced this one year ago at this time. This recent flare up has been very, very painful. I am still in the middle of it actually.I am getting physical therapy and doing a lot of exercises. 

Well, Saturday night rolled around and I was in a huge amount of pain. It was not quite time to take my ibuprofen again and I had already had Tylenol. Still, I persevered and did what was in front of me. One of these jobs was to turn down the bed. 

I can’t stand it, I thought. I can’t stand this pain. I am having a hard time focusing on anything else. 

Well, apparently God and the universe heard me, because as I was getting ready to move the pillows, I thought I saw something moving. 

“Oh it’s just the way the light is hitting that card on the wall,” I thought.

Then it happened again. Something was moving in my house. Pretty soon, there was the culprit – a small mouse on my pillow. Gross! What is he/she/they doing there? On my pillow? Seriously? 

It is no secret that my log cabin is a favorite habitat for critters. I have had my issues with mice, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, mealy worms, wasps, you name it. I have an exterminator on retainer. So one would think I would be fairly used to it by now and that things would be under control. I have become tolerant, but this really took the cake. 

So my furry little friend just kind of stood there for a moment, on my pillow, trying to figure out what to do. I yelled at him, which did no good whatsoever. Maybe he was deaf?

Then he started roaming. He ran under the piano, and then, to my disgust, into the kitchen. I was totally grossed out.
So I plugged in my buzzer thing that is supposed to keep mice away. I also put out a trap on the kitchen floor. He/She/They were not interested in that either. 

“Are you kidding me? Why do I have to deal with this?” I said out loud to God.  “Don’t I have enough going on with this unbearable pain and trying to live my life?”

Silence. 

Meanwhile, the mouse keeps roaming, running and stopping, not very interested in me.

Well, I gathered my courage, took a deep breath, told God and the universe how grossed out I was, grabbed the mouse in a rag, and put him outside. Good for me, I thought. Gross. Totally grossed out. 

Well, not even 30 seconds later, there he is, looking at me again. So either I missed him the first time, or there were two of them, Mr. and Mrs. perhaps. 

Seriously? You’ve got to be kidding! 

I let him run around some more.

I can’t have this, I thought. This creature can’t stay in my living space like this. If he was in the basement, at least I wouldn’t have to look at him. I could pretend he didn’t exist. But here in my space, no. Not acceptable. I have to solve this problem. 

So, once again, I grabbed the rag and, after some chasing, caught the mouse and put him outside. This time I saw him after I let him out of the rag. 

“You live out there, not in here!” I yelled at the mouse, as if he understood me or cared. 

Then I closed the door and, after expressing how grossed out I still was, heaved a huge sigh of relief. I hope that is all of them. I hope I am alone. Deep breath.

My heart was pounding as I put the dishes away. I kept breathing deeply, trying to relax. A little while later it dawned on me. I had not thought about my pain for the whole time I was dealing with the mouse. What a miracle! So perhaps God put that mouse there to help distract me from my throbbing shoulder.

I moved from frustration and panic, to acceptance and gratitude. The mouse was gone and for the moment, so was my pain. God is in control. He gives us what we need when we need it. I needed acceptance, gratitude and a lot of deep breaths. That little mouse was the path that God had me take to get me there. I am grateful. 

I have not seen my furry little friend since. I am grateful for that too.