Meek as a Mouse
As meek as a mouse! Where did that saying come from? Mice are not meek!
A mouse will fight for its life! It might be small, but it is not weak. When cornered by a cat, a mouse rises on its back legs to make itself as large as possible and bares its teeth to look its fiercest. And those incisors, worked by powerful jaw muscles, interlock on flesh and draw blood. A mouse has courage enough to stare into the face of an enemy, and patience enough to wait for an opportune time to make a dash for safety. When brought back from an unsuccessful attempt at escape, it patiently waits for another opportunity. Again, again and again, it does not give up. A mouse is defined by courage, patience and hope.
A mouse does not go out of its way to tease a cat. It does not flaunt its strength before a cat. It knows its limitations.
A bigger creature can throw its weight around and squeeze the life out of a little mouse; a human can crush it with the back of a shovel or a shoe, but look at the difference in size, strength and sheer bulk!
Meekness is recognizing both my fragility and my strength, knowing God is mightier than I am, and that I have the ability to damage others.
This is the wisdom taught by Jesus when He sat down on a mountainside with those close followers who were learning from Him.
“The meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.” (Psalm 37:11 NIV, also see Matthew 5:5)
by Andrea Kidd
