Harvey

 While outside on a break from work today I noticed a tiny baby mouse on the sidewalk. Tiny,eyes still shut and scared for it's life this poor little thing was barely crawling across the ground looking for help. I admit that at first I walked away,went back to work and tried to go on with my day. I kept checking on him out the window while people,bikes and shopping carts wizzed by barely missing him...it broke my heart. So on a later break I retrieved an old tupperware container out of my van,lined it with paper towels and grabbed a plastic shower cap to put over the top..just in case he was more mobile than he appeared. I scooped him up in the container and hoped that would do until I figured out my next move. On my lunch break I confessed to Vern what I was up to as I gathered bits of food from our fridge.  He was afraid I was signing up for a pet mouse..no no no. I'm not a Mama mouse and there's only so much I can do until I have to accept the inevitable.Nature will take it's course.
I decided to at least give him a name and say a prayer for him. So I said a prayer for Harvey and returned to work while he waited in my van. He slept so hard that he squeeked when I woke him after work. I assume it had been a long day! Honestly I was surprised he was still alive. I knew the best thing to do is to take him out to a safe little spot in the woods tomorrow morning and drop him off. Hope for the best. Satisfied I did what I could...
I went about my evening as normal but I couldn't stop thinking about Harvey out in my van and all alone. So out of curiosity I googled how to care for a baby mouse. Feedings every 2 hours,stimulate bowel movements etc etc etc...oh goodness.Survival rate very low..something about kitten milk...yadda yadda.No way-too much for me! Or is it? After much debate with myself,I decided I would feel better about "nature taking it's course" if I did what I could for now. I went out to the van with some warm, watered down, milk in a shot glass and a washcloth.He didn't move much,I thought I was already too late...then he began to wiggle,I think he was asleep again. I snuggled him in the cloth and turned him on his back so I could drop milk into his mouth with a toothpick.The website had said a drop or two is enough and I had to improvise with real milk and a toothpick but....it worked pretty good!Gosh he was so cute! He drank a few drops,his eyes still unopen he stretched his head out to eat. I loosely wrapped him into the washcloth and put him back in the container. I found one of those instant  hand warmers in my van console and put it under the container for some extra warmth. It was a sweet little moment for me,feeding this helpless little baby and admiring his tiny little feet and face.I felt better knowing that if he passes tonight,he won't be alone,hungry and cold. None of God's creatures deserve that,not even Harvey.
So I am promising myself that I will do what I said I would tomorrow. Drop him off somewhere where he can go back to being part of the circle of life..but I won't lie...it's going to be hard. That tiny creature reminded me that we are all important, no matter how insignificant or broken we may seem to the majority of passers by..
and I pray that the bits of goodness I am able to share with the world makes a difference.I wish I could do as much for Harvey as he has done for me.
Thanks Harvey :)