Little Big Mouse

Once upon a time, a little mouse walked up a big hill on her way to the cheese shop.

But when she got to the top of the hill, the hill tilted. "Eek!" she cried. "Earthquake!" But it wasn't an earthquake. As it turns out, the hill wasn't a big hill at all. It was a big lion!

The big lion jumped up and grabbed the little mouse by her tail.
"Mmmm," said the lion. "What a tasty little tidbit. I think I can fit this little nibble in before dinner."

But the little mouse didn't want to be eaten. She was going to have a big cheese party that night, and she was really looking forward to it. So just when the big lion was about to drop her into his mouth, she said, "Please don't eat me! If you let me go, I'll return the favor and help YOU out one day!"

When the lion heard what the mouse said, he stopped, and began to roar with laughter. That was the funniest thing he had ever heard.
"What, a little mouse like you? Help a big lion like me? That's so ridiculous!"
The lion laughed some more, until his sides began to hurt.
"Whoo! That's a good one!"

One day, a year later, the big lion was walking in the jungle on the way to his club when suddenly he was swept up into the air and was hanging from a tree.

It was a hunter's net, and he was trapped!

"Help! Help!" he cried. "Somebody come help me, quick!"

As it happened, the little mouse was just then walking by, and she heard his scream.

"Sounds like someone is in trouble," she said, and she ran over there lickety-split. She looked up in the air, and saw . . .

"Hey, isn't that you?" she asked. "Aren't you the big lion who didn't eat me?"

Although the big lion was in a fix, he recognized the little mouse.

"That's me," he said, sounding angry and scared. "Quick, now is your chance to do your favor. Run and go get help!"

But the little mouse heard the hunters' footsteps approaching.

"There's no time for that," she said. She thought for a second, and then snapped her little fingers.

"I've got it. I'll get you free myself."

"What? Are you crazy?" said the lion. "How can a little mouse like you free me from this great big net?"

But while he was busy complaining, the mouse was busy running up the tree and chewing through the net.

"Almost . . . there . . ." panted the little mouse between nibbles, hearing the hunters getting closer and closer . . . .

Suddenly, the ropes snapped, and the big lion was free!

The lion stood up, roared a mighty roar, and the hunters all ran away. When the hunters were gone, the lion and the mouse shook hands.

The mouse said, "See? I told you I would help you someday!"

"Wow!" said the lion. "I'm sure glad I didn't eat you! That was some quick thinking you did!"

And from that day forward, the little mouse and the big lion were best friends. He would even let her walk on his back sometimes - when he wanted his back scratched.

Father's Eyes

Father's Eyes

A teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special relationship. The father believed in encouragement. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.

This young man was the smallest of the class when he entered high school. His father continued to encourage him but also made it very clear that he did not have to play football if he didn’t want to. But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there. He was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he’d get to play when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed a practice or a game, but remained a bench warmer all four years. His faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him. When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a “walk-on.”

Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always puts his heart and soul to every practice, and at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed. The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father.

His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games. This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play in the game.

It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big play off game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, “My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?”

The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, “Take the rest of the week off, son. And don’t even plan to come back to the game on Saturday.” Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well.

In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful team-mate back so soon. “Coach, please let me play. I’ve just got to play today,” said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff game. But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in. “All right,” he said. “You can go in.” Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before, was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he passed, blocked and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph.

The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. The fans broke loose. His team-mates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you’ve never heard! Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that the young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone. The coach came to him and said, “Kid, I can’t believe it. You were fantastic!”

Tell me what got into you? How did you do it? He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, “Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?” The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, “Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!”