Lessons from the outside of a cat
My mom was dead set against a house pet. An indoor pet was more domestic liability than she was willing to risk. Her children had no concept of the irreparable damage a pet could do to a home that wasn’t ours, but she did and her word was law.
While I was in freshman in high school my parents were able to build a house of their own. For the first time in our lives my siblings and I were free to spill Kool-aid on the carpet and have an inside pet! Mom still didn’t like the idea, but we prevailed and a nice little Siamese cat came to live with us.
There was never a cat that got more love and attention than Sam. Initially we practiced cat holding schedules because everyone demanded premium petting time. Soon an amazing phenomena occurred. When the cat was free to choose, it went directly to mom. Mom never sat down without that silly cat climbing onto her lap. What a clueless, ungrateful feline! Why?……. The answer is simple enough. Mom was the only person that fed the cat or cleaned the litter box. We had all promised to do this chore. It was supposed to be the last thing we did as we left through the back door each morning on our way to the school bus stop, but Greg didn’t do it, I (Gretchen) had my flute and homework to lug, Gayle had her reasons and Gwen was too little to reach the feed bag or toss poop. So, after we all got out the door and the dust settled, mom would find the feed bowl empty and the litter box full. She fixed the problem.
Mom could have gotten rid of the cat because we didn’t honor our responsibilities. She could have let the cat starve, (not really). She could have made the cat wait until we returned home in the evening and then remind us once again to care for our pet. But, why punish the cat because the kids were remiss? Mom chose to consistently meet Sam’s physical need, while we were only interested in our selfish enjoyment of a soft, furry pet. The cat’s response was normal. She loved the hand that fed her. I interject that we were given appropriate consequences for our neglectful behavior, but of a nature so as not to punish the cat.
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The issue of appeasing selfish needs doesn’t just occur in child/pet relationships. This trend is being carried out in interpersonal relationships everywhere. While socially acceptable, taking what makes us feel good and leaving the object of our self-indulgence empty and uncared for is wrong!
At the end of Jesus’ life in the flesh He faced the betrayal of His dear friend Peter. They had walked many miles together, laughed over life’s oddities, wondered at the world’s glories, shared many victories and joys. In the end, Peter just couldn’t face the fear and reality of who Jesus really was. Peter denied Jesus not once, but thrice. He left his beloved friend to die alone and friendless. But when the dust settled, Jesus only said, “Peter, if you love Me, feed My lambs, take care of My sheep.” The commission is to love each other, to feed each other, strengthen and encourage each other, not leave each other forlorn, friendless and dying.
God’s character is not a reflection of taking. He continually gives. His capacity to forgive is unfathomable. All the riches of Heaven are His, and He will bestow those riches on His children. We have every reason to give of ourselves freely and generously.
Have a Wonderful Day of Worship,
Gretchen
