A Hamster Hunt and a Prayerful Heart

SHORT STORY
A true short story of humor and inspiration

It all started with a nightmare. It was a horrible nightmare, actually. Suddenly at 4am I woke up. I felt compelled to use the bathroom, which is very rare for me in the middle of the night. So I got up and went to the bathroom. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him. The little tiny, 3 inch by 1 inch hamster running across the floor. Three things crossed my mind within five seconds: 1. OH NO!! 2. My roommates are going to kill me and 3. Eleven will never trust me again.

You see, for the past week I have been babysitting two strange hamsters for my friend Eleven, who is from mainland China. I made a deal with the landlady and my roomates that I could babysite them (pets are not aloud in my house) as long as they didn't get out of their cages. I knew that if I could keep them safe, Eleven would trust me. More was on the line here than just a loose hamster. I had made two promises and I keep my promises.

I quickly jumped up, grabbed my glasses and a small flashlight and went searching for the little creature in a large, dark home with sleeping roommates nearby. I chased him into the large kitchen and then he disappeared. I sat and waited for any signs of life. Nothing. I silently said a prayer, explaining to the Lord that I had faith He could help me, I knew He could command the animals, and that this was something important to me. 20 seconds after the "amen" I saw his beady little eyes in the nearby hallway. I slowly, quietly made my way towards him. Then he disappeared . . . under the door of my sleeping roommate!! Oh no. I sat, waiting for him to reappear. But he didn't. I said another silent prayer Heavenly Father would let me see where he went and still nothing. I felt to look in the opposite direction, down the hall. There he was. How he got there, I have no idea. But I slowly made my way to him and made a snatch! Missed! You see, in order to capture this littly guy you have to hit dead on and squeeze hard. He is incredibly fast (not like normal, fat hamsters) and you have to envelope him in your hand because he is so tiny.

I saw him run, run into my room (or at least I thought). I closed the door and put a blanket under the open space. No one or creature was leaving my room if I could help it! I thought, oh this will be easy! I looked in all the cracks and crannies. Nothing. I bowed my head and said a prayer, initally seeking to know where he went, but mid prayer, I felt a voice tell me to ask that he would reappear right under my hand so I could catch him. I thought it was a joke! So, I asked for just that, half in disbelief. Virtually 3 senconds after the prayer, the little guy walked out from under my backpack right under my hand and looked up at me. Got him! I stuck him back in his cage and made sure he wasn't going anywhere.

It only took me 20-30 minutes in a huge house to catch this little guy when it took my friend Eleven 4 hours to catch him in her room. Prayers are answered. Heavenly Father loves us and He knew what was imporant to me, even if it seemed insignificant to others. I'm not sure the Lord will help every time when we lose a hamster, but I never knew I could learn so much from a Hamster Hunt.