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Hamster Wheels and Tests of Faith
by Nancy Quinn Ah, childhood pets. Along with my feisty and rambunctious rat terrier Mitsy, I always had a hamster. My hamster Mickey would roam the top of my school desk as I did my homework, and would pause long enough to grab my pencil and nibble at the eraser. He was a very prestigious rodent and owned his own sports car. Looking quite dashing, he'd race up and down the hallway in his roadster. My dad would come home for dinner and Mickey would enjoy his evening nap, curled into a tiny golden ball in my dad's shirt pocket. Watching him eat was another story. I'd give him treats that would instantly disappear into his cheeks and give him a comical look. But night time would be his time to shine. As I was trying to drift off to sleep, he'd begin racing in his wheel, oblivious to the incessant creaking that would drive me crazy. Just like Mickey's hamster wheel races that never went anywhere, his wheel reminds me that sometimes I keep running in circles and don't learn the lessons the Lord wants to teach me. The Lord allows situations to cross my path so I can grow in my faith. And sometimes I admit that I need "do-over's" because I don't immediately learn what the Lord is teaching me. But the Lord is patient and loving, so He keeps allowing things to cross my path so that I can make the right choices and keep growing stronger in my faith. A wonderful verse to memorize is I Corinthians 10:13 so you can recall it when you go through a time of struggle. God is faithful and loves you very much. He won't let you fall! I Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." James 1:3 "knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." Proverbs 17:3 "The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests hearts." Jeremiah 17:10 "I, the LORD, search the heart, test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds." May God bless these words as I strive to encourage others in their walk with Christ. Please contact me if you would like to request a specific lesson that Lucy Mouse can teach your children or if you would like a coloring page to be sent to match the story! Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |