Mandy the mouse was a sweet little mouse who lived in the bottom of a big oak tree, deep in a forest, far away. Her door was round, and her windows were round with little delicate lace curtains. She had a table and a chair in her little kitchen and she had a shelf full of books, lots of books near a big comfy chair and a fireplace. Mandy also had a little coal stove in her little kitchen, where she loved to bake pies. However, none of the pies she ever made were ever pies she got to eat. You see, Mandy always gave away her pies to everyone who came to her door, and everyone who came to her door, came only because they knew they would get a pie. Some would get a whole pie to take home and some came only for a slice of pie. Some were very grateful and some were simply very demanding and not thankful at all. But no matter, Mandy continued to share her pies, but never got to eat one.
Mandy would bake a honey and berry pie and from far away, Benjamin the Bear would come bounding up to her door, often breaking it down and gobbling the entire pie before it was even ready to come out of the oven and poor Mandy would stand there still covered in flour and eggs with berry stains on her hands, with an empty oven and a broken door. Mandy had none of that pie.
Mandy would bake a peas and carrots pot pie and the scent would float up high out of the branches of the big oak tree in which she lived and from far away, the bunny clan would catch a whiff of the wonderful sweet smell, and hop, hop, hop as fast as they could, to Mandy’s door. “Let us in Miss. Mandy Mouse,” the bunnies would all chime together. We want to visit with you and taste some peas and carrots pie!” Mandy Mouse did so enjoy the company of the bunnies and would gladly let them in. They hopped all over her bookshelves, sometimes knocking all the books down before getting comfortable around the stove, waiting eagerly for the peas and carrots pie. Then when it came out of the oven, it was devoured almost before it even was set on the table to share. Mandy got none of that pie either.
Mandy would bake the most scrumptious pecan pie, full of pecans from a nearby tree owned by Mrs. Olivia Owl, who, being a wise merchant as she was, made a very good profit selling the pecans off the tree. The sweet smell of pecans and molasses would drift out the windows into the woods, attracting squirrels from all around and one by one they would line up by Mandy’s door, eagerly awaiting their piece of pie.
Then one day winter set in and the snow piled deep, and the lakes froze over, and Mandy herself had no pie in her cupboard. She opened her oven, there was no pie. She opened her cabinet and found no pie. She even looked behind her books on her bookshelf and there was no pie. The pecan tree was no longer producing and was resting for the winter time. There were no more pecans. There were no more spring or fall carrots popping out of the ground, no summertime peas, to harvest and store away, and no hens laying eggs to even make a crust. Mandy was empty-handed and so very sad.
“What have I done? She cried to herself. She had given and given and given, so wanting to make her neighbors happy that she had forgotten herself or to even take the time to make her very own favorite pie, pumpkin pie. And even that took tremendous thought in fact, to remember what pie exactly was her favorite. She had spent so much time making sure others had their favorite, that she had forgotten hers.
And now by this time in the winter, the pumpkins had already long since been harvested by the other woodland creatures, who now had roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin soup and yes, Mandy’s favorite, pumpkin pie, crammed in their cabinets, along with peas and carrots pies, berry and honey pies, and even pecan pies, all that had been made by Mandy. But none of them even remembered Mandy, while they were snug in their tree homes, safe, sound and well-fed.
In the meantime, a little fox clearly lost and hungry, knocked meekly on Mandy’s door. “Please Mandy Mouse, could you share with me one of your wonderful pies, I’ve heard my mommy talk about so much?” I have lost my way home and I don’t know how to get back to my den, and I am so very hungry.” Ms. Mandy was so broken-hearted, because even though she could walk the little fox back to his den to be safe with his mommy, she had nothing to give to put in his tummy so he could warm up before their journey back to his home.
Mandy was grieved at her mistake, so upset that she had given and given and given and now was empty-handed. Now not only did she have nothing for herself, but she had nothing to give this little fox who was hungry and lost, and when she got back home, she sat by her fire, and cried and cried until she fell asleep.
Well, wouldn’t you know that there was one little woodland creature out and about in the winter day, bright and early the next morning, collecting icicles for her pot of water? Camilla the Cardinal was flitting about from branch to branch to branch, and she happened to fly by Mandy’s tree and saw so many beautiful, sparkling icicles. As she was flying up and down and all around, she happened by Mandy’s window and there, she saw the most pitiful sight. Mandy was shivering in her chair, clearly very tired and the fire had gone out in the fireplace. Well, Camilla became very worried. So Camilla found an opening in the top of Mandy’s tree and down she swooped, right into Mandy’s kitchen. She saw Mandy’s pot in the fireplace was empty, so began to fill it with icicles to heat up some water. “This poor little mouse has nothing on her table. I will look in her cabinets to see if I can cook something warm for her.”
She opened the cabinets and to her dismay, she found them empty, not even a crumb. She looked in the stove and found nothing there; just echoes of her voice as she wondered aloud what could have happened here. She even searched the bookshelf for even a loaf of bread or a pot of porridge and found nothing but books, lots of books.
“Well, this mystery must be solved once and for all!” said Camilla Cardinal, and with that, she shook Mandy Mouse until she awoke and demanded to know what was exactly was going on. Why in this big, big forest with all these big, big trees and all the other woodland creatures around, was Mandy in a tree by herself with no fire and with no food, all in the middle of winter?! This was just disgraceful!
Camilla Cardinal got a fire going and wrapped Mandy Mouse up in blankets as best she could. “I will be back!” declared Camilla Cardinal, “You must get something warm in your tummy!” and with that she flew off as fast she could to her own little tree where she found some nutmeg and walnuts and pecans, and molasses. She flew back and made the best nut and molasses bread Mandy Mouse ever did eat, that warmed her from head to toe.
Camilla and Mandy had the best day ever as they talked and talked and talked and Mandy showed off all her books and told her about how she made pies every day. “Well, that reminds me Miss. Mandy, you never did tell me, how is it you’re cabinets are empty? How is it you’ve made so many pies but have none here?” asked Camilla, and just as she suspected, Mandy Mouse being meek as she was and had a heart to give to others, had done like so many of us do. She had aimed to please so many other woodland creatures and wanted to make them happy, that she had forgotten herself.
“I want to tell you something little Mandy Mouse. You have a heart of Gold, and God has given you a wonderful gift with a talent for baking wonderfully delicious pies. But God does not want you to squander your purpose He has for you, nor to forget the desires of your heart that He’s placed there, nor does He want you to be selfish and not give at all. What He does want is for you to be wise and more than anything He wants you to be led solely by His voice. That means, Miss Mandy that we don’t just give a piece of who we are to everyone who demands of us, rather to give as God leads. There are plenty of creatures out there who gladly will take and take and take and not even think twice about it, as you have discovered, sadly. But please do not fret. God will place the right creatures in your path and when you listen closely to Him, you will know what He wants you to do, and when you do that, you will bless the creatures He’s called you to bless, and you will not be left empty-handed.” And, from that day forward, Camilla and Mandy were the best of friends, and Camilla had taken Mandy under her wing, encouraging her and teaching her about God and Mandy made twice the pies she had made the year before and blessed twice the creatures she had before, all of whom were sent by God to her door, and when winter came that year, Mandy’s house was full of friends, her fire in the fireplace was blazing warm and there were pies piled high in the cabinet, and baking in the stove, and yes, even stored behind the books.
When I read about Mandy Mouse, she reminds me so much of many people I know, including me. Somewhere along the line, those people and me, have gotten a little confused as to what it means as a Christian to serve others. You see, it’s not others God wants us to serve, but Him He wants us to serve, and when we serve Him, he places the right people in our path who we not only get to bless, but often times we are the ones even more blessed. When we serve Christ, and listen to His voice, we begin to understand the call he has on our life. When we serve Christ and Christ alone, we are not so sad, or so alone or empty-handed or disappointed. Instead, we are blessed beyond measure and more often than not, filled with joy and contentment and the peace of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mandy would bake a honey and berry pie and from far away, Benjamin the Bear would come bounding up to her door, often breaking it down and gobbling the entire pie before it was even ready to come out of the oven and poor Mandy would stand there still covered in flour and eggs with berry stains on her hands, with an empty oven and a broken door. Mandy had none of that pie.
Mandy would bake a peas and carrots pot pie and the scent would float up high out of the branches of the big oak tree in which she lived and from far away, the bunny clan would catch a whiff of the wonderful sweet smell, and hop, hop, hop as fast as they could, to Mandy’s door. “Let us in Miss. Mandy Mouse,” the bunnies would all chime together. We want to visit with you and taste some peas and carrots pie!” Mandy Mouse did so enjoy the company of the bunnies and would gladly let them in. They hopped all over her bookshelves, sometimes knocking all the books down before getting comfortable around the stove, waiting eagerly for the peas and carrots pie. Then when it came out of the oven, it was devoured almost before it even was set on the table to share. Mandy got none of that pie either.
Mandy would bake the most scrumptious pecan pie, full of pecans from a nearby tree owned by Mrs. Olivia Owl, who, being a wise merchant as she was, made a very good profit selling the pecans off the tree. The sweet smell of pecans and molasses would drift out the windows into the woods, attracting squirrels from all around and one by one they would line up by Mandy’s door, eagerly awaiting their piece of pie.
Then one day winter set in and the snow piled deep, and the lakes froze over, and Mandy herself had no pie in her cupboard. She opened her oven, there was no pie. She opened her cabinet and found no pie. She even looked behind her books on her bookshelf and there was no pie. The pecan tree was no longer producing and was resting for the winter time. There were no more pecans. There were no more spring or fall carrots popping out of the ground, no summertime peas, to harvest and store away, and no hens laying eggs to even make a crust. Mandy was empty-handed and so very sad.
“What have I done? She cried to herself. She had given and given and given, so wanting to make her neighbors happy that she had forgotten herself or to even take the time to make her very own favorite pie, pumpkin pie. And even that took tremendous thought in fact, to remember what pie exactly was her favorite. She had spent so much time making sure others had their favorite, that she had forgotten hers.
And now by this time in the winter, the pumpkins had already long since been harvested by the other woodland creatures, who now had roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin soup and yes, Mandy’s favorite, pumpkin pie, crammed in their cabinets, along with peas and carrots pies, berry and honey pies, and even pecan pies, all that had been made by Mandy. But none of them even remembered Mandy, while they were snug in their tree homes, safe, sound and well-fed.
In the meantime, a little fox clearly lost and hungry, knocked meekly on Mandy’s door. “Please Mandy Mouse, could you share with me one of your wonderful pies, I’ve heard my mommy talk about so much?” I have lost my way home and I don’t know how to get back to my den, and I am so very hungry.” Ms. Mandy was so broken-hearted, because even though she could walk the little fox back to his den to be safe with his mommy, she had nothing to give to put in his tummy so he could warm up before their journey back to his home.
Mandy was grieved at her mistake, so upset that she had given and given and given and now was empty-handed. Now not only did she have nothing for herself, but she had nothing to give this little fox who was hungry and lost, and when she got back home, she sat by her fire, and cried and cried until she fell asleep.
Well, wouldn’t you know that there was one little woodland creature out and about in the winter day, bright and early the next morning, collecting icicles for her pot of water? Camilla the Cardinal was flitting about from branch to branch to branch, and she happened to fly by Mandy’s tree and saw so many beautiful, sparkling icicles. As she was flying up and down and all around, she happened by Mandy’s window and there, she saw the most pitiful sight. Mandy was shivering in her chair, clearly very tired and the fire had gone out in the fireplace. Well, Camilla became very worried. So Camilla found an opening in the top of Mandy’s tree and down she swooped, right into Mandy’s kitchen. She saw Mandy’s pot in the fireplace was empty, so began to fill it with icicles to heat up some water. “This poor little mouse has nothing on her table. I will look in her cabinets to see if I can cook something warm for her.”
She opened the cabinets and to her dismay, she found them empty, not even a crumb. She looked in the stove and found nothing there; just echoes of her voice as she wondered aloud what could have happened here. She even searched the bookshelf for even a loaf of bread or a pot of porridge and found nothing but books, lots of books.
“Well, this mystery must be solved once and for all!” said Camilla Cardinal, and with that, she shook Mandy Mouse until she awoke and demanded to know what was exactly was going on. Why in this big, big forest with all these big, big trees and all the other woodland creatures around, was Mandy in a tree by herself with no fire and with no food, all in the middle of winter?! This was just disgraceful!
Camilla Cardinal got a fire going and wrapped Mandy Mouse up in blankets as best she could. “I will be back!” declared Camilla Cardinal, “You must get something warm in your tummy!” and with that she flew off as fast she could to her own little tree where she found some nutmeg and walnuts and pecans, and molasses. She flew back and made the best nut and molasses bread Mandy Mouse ever did eat, that warmed her from head to toe.
Camilla and Mandy had the best day ever as they talked and talked and talked and Mandy showed off all her books and told her about how she made pies every day. “Well, that reminds me Miss. Mandy, you never did tell me, how is it you’re cabinets are empty? How is it you’ve made so many pies but have none here?” asked Camilla, and just as she suspected, Mandy Mouse being meek as she was and had a heart to give to others, had done like so many of us do. She had aimed to please so many other woodland creatures and wanted to make them happy, that she had forgotten herself.
“I want to tell you something little Mandy Mouse. You have a heart of Gold, and God has given you a wonderful gift with a talent for baking wonderfully delicious pies. But God does not want you to squander your purpose He has for you, nor to forget the desires of your heart that He’s placed there, nor does He want you to be selfish and not give at all. What He does want is for you to be wise and more than anything He wants you to be led solely by His voice. That means, Miss Mandy that we don’t just give a piece of who we are to everyone who demands of us, rather to give as God leads. There are plenty of creatures out there who gladly will take and take and take and not even think twice about it, as you have discovered, sadly. But please do not fret. God will place the right creatures in your path and when you listen closely to Him, you will know what He wants you to do, and when you do that, you will bless the creatures He’s called you to bless, and you will not be left empty-handed.” And, from that day forward, Camilla and Mandy were the best of friends, and Camilla had taken Mandy under her wing, encouraging her and teaching her about God and Mandy made twice the pies she had made the year before and blessed twice the creatures she had before, all of whom were sent by God to her door, and when winter came that year, Mandy’s house was full of friends, her fire in the fireplace was blazing warm and there were pies piled high in the cabinet, and baking in the stove, and yes, even stored behind the books.
When I read about Mandy Mouse, she reminds me so much of many people I know, including me. Somewhere along the line, those people and me, have gotten a little confused as to what it means as a Christian to serve others. You see, it’s not others God wants us to serve, but Him He wants us to serve, and when we serve Him, he places the right people in our path who we not only get to bless, but often times we are the ones even more blessed. When we serve Christ, and listen to His voice, we begin to understand the call he has on our life. When we serve Christ and Christ alone, we are not so sad, or so alone or empty-handed or disappointed. Instead, we are blessed beyond measure and more often than not, filled with joy and contentment and the peace of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.