"Mooch the Moose" ~ A free story for Children's ministry

Mooch the Moose

by: Susanna Zeigler

Chomp chomp snort (smack lips) Man these roots and grubs sure are juicy today.  Mooch the Moose was enjoying lunch at the top of a Colorado mountain next to lush pines and Cypress trees.  Chomping and drooling the entire time - Mooch loved meal time.  It was the only time he could forget about his problems, and when his never ending heartache wasn't noticeable.  Why oh why did he have to be so different from all the other moose?!?  But lets not think about that right now because this woolly caterpillar tasted too awesome for me to be cumbered with troublesome thoughts.

Mooch was only different in one area-he was albino which meant he stuck out like a sore thumb with all the other Moose.  The others avoided him as though he had some terrible disease never giving Mooch the chance to show his true colors.  Thus leaving him to a lonely life.  Mooch really couldn’t see why the other’s avoided him.  If they would just give me a chance they could experience my awesome personality. Mooch had the best sense of humor in all the Rocky Mountains.  He could have easily been comedian of the year.  But no one would ever know because they never give him the opportunity.

Often when getting a drink from the cold, clear mountain lake Mooch would almost stand on his head trying to see his reflection in the still water.  Hoping to see what was wrong with him.  Maybe if he knew he could fix the problem.  But all he ever saw was a beautiful, dark complexed moose whose teeth looked like a toothpaste commercial.  Sigh  

One dreary day Mooch was laying under a standing of tall evergreens.  The musty scent adding to the mood of the day.  Owl flew down and perched on a nearby branch. Why so gloomy big guy?  asked Owl.  Startled that someone was actually talking to him Mooch just stared, his tongue all twisted around his eye teeth. Finally he found his voice, You talking to me?  Since you are the only one around I must be mused Owl.  Mooch found himself smiling and nodding.  Loving the fact that someone had asked, Mooch sat and poured out his heart to Owl for 2 hours.  Owl had never heard or seen such a chatty moose and thought certainly his ears were going to fall off.  He almost wished he hadn’t asked Mooch but his compassion kicked into gear and he listened while pulling from every cobwebbed corner of his brain every speck of wisdom he could find. He knew he was going to need it.

Two hours later Mooch shut up. Leaving Owl to grasp at straws and tell him why he was different.  At first Mooch couldn’t believe his ears. WHAT!!!! I’m white???  That’s not what I see in the lake’s reflection.  Mooch was outraged. What a stupid Owl - so much for their being wise and all.  I will never talk to him again.  Boy do I feel stupid opening myself up like that.  Oh the humility. The day suddenly became 10 times more dreary.

The day was drawing to a close, the sun was going down over the mountain range when a little voice whisper in Mooch’s ear Mooch, Owl is right.  Mooch’s teeth almost slid down his throat from the scare the voice gave him.  He jerked his head up and around. What! Who and where are you? asked Mooch in a shaky voice.  I said Owl is right and I am up here came the voice again.  Suddenly Mooch realized who was talking and sat up with rapt attention.  This was a voice he wanted to hear because it belonged to the Creator.  God, why did you have to make me different from all the other moose? Didn’t you know this would be a hard life for me to live?  I am so lonely!! Mooch was beside himself with grief as he cried out to his Creator.  Here was the One who had made him for who he was surely he would have some answers, some solutions.  Maybe if he knows just how bad my life is He will change me, thought Mooch.  But to Mooch’s disappointment that was not God’s plan.  

God looked down on his creation with love and pity.  Love because to Him, Mooch was everything God wanted in him.  Pity because it saddened Him that Mooch seemed to care more about what others thought of him then what God thought.  Because Mooch had his eyes on earthly things he couldn’t get past self-pity to find out what kind of life God wanted for him.  Life seemed like all doom and gloom with nothing to live for.  Boy was he in for a life changing experience!!

Because Mooch took time to listen to the Creator that evening he got his focus straightened and gained 20/20 vision.  He learned that God loved him and that in God’s eyes Mooch was very special.  He learned that God had made him albino because God loves variety.  It would be a boring world if we were all the same. Don’t you think?  Most importantly Mooch learned to love his Creator in return.  And in so doing he gained the confidence needed to stand up to the mocking of others and that gave him life long friends.  Life was no longer lonely but rather it became a celebration surrounded by others who were experiencing Mooch’s awesome personality and learning to love him for who he was.  Most of all because he was staying focused on his Creator.

Are you a boy or girl who feels like you're different from everyone else?  Do you feel like life has been unfair in giving you braces on your teeth, freckles on your nose, or glasses on your face?  Maybe you have a real disability that leaves you feeling lonely.  We know that Mooch is just a moose and that this is a silly story.  But God is your Creator too.  You see, in God’s eyes we are all the same.  We were created to love and worship God, sin is what has us looking at each other and thinking we are different and not very special.  God loves you for who you are and He wants you to love Him in return.