We could learn a thing or two from cats. Wait….all you folks who don’t like cats, don’t click the X yet. God really has used my cat to teach me a few things. It’s kind of like your third grade teacher who used visual aids to get your attention so she could impart some small tidbit of wisdom to you.
Sweet Pea came into my life as a tiny kitten—still too young to be away from her mother. We weren’t sure she’d survive, but the tenacity she demonstrated as a baby formed her personality—er, that is, her CATitude. Her feistiness has mellowed a little bit over the past few years, but she still has a way of getting her message across.
1) She wants my undivided attention. When she’s sitting with me at the computer and she catches me looking at the screen instead of her, she bats my face with her paw. Makes me wonder sometimes if God would like to bat my face and remind me to pay attention to Him instead doing things my way.
2) She navigates all the clutter on my desk to get to me. Impressive really, she’s like a tight-rope walker as she threads her way around my laptop, my PC, my mouse pads, notepads, research books, dictionary, external hard drives, Post-it Notes, calendar, coffee cup, picture frames, telephone, tape dispenser, you name it, to come and sit directly in front of me and stare at me with an air of expectation. Then she gives me her undivided attention. She doesn’t let anything stand in her way. Don’t you suppose we should do the same with our cluttered schedules and hectic days, and find our way through the chaos to sit at Jesus’ feet?
3) She flees from “evil” — in this case the vacuum cleaner, “Jaws”. All I have to do is drag Jaws out of his lair. He’s not plugged in yet, he hasn’t roared to life, he’s not even heading in her direction. But the moment she sees Jaws, she runs for cover—usually into the closet. I wonder if God wishes we would be so diligent to abstain from the appearance of evil, to keep our heart and our testimony pure.
4) She hides when she needs to be alone. Sweet Pea has several hiding places in the house, and I’ve found most of them. But sometimes I’ll check all her favorite places and I can’t find her. She comes out when she’s ready, or when it’s suppertime—whichever comes first. Sometimes the din of the world–the confusion, the busy-ness, out of control emotions, the clamor, the demands, the distractions—close in on us and we need an escape. How can we hear God’s voice above the cacophony if we don’t take time to separate ourselves from it just to be quiet?
5) She knows how to REST. It’s true, cats normally sleep anywhere from 14-18 hours per day. When she wants to nap, anywhere is a good spot. She’ll sleep on the back of my chair, under a table, buried in a blankie, just wherever and whenever she pleases. Don’t you wish you could learn to TRUST the same way a cat rests? Anywhere, everywhere, anytime, all the time, if we rest on God, we’ll discover a deeper level of trust than we ever knew existed.
6) She’s jealous. Some cats live in a multi-cat or multi-pet family. Not Sweet Pea. She is the Queen and wants no other cats before her. She’s an indoor kitty, so when the neighbor’s cats come calling, she hisses at them through the window screens and scowls at me if I dare to go out and pet them. She wants me to adore her, and only her. When God gave the ten commandments to Moses, He said, You shall not have any other gods before Me. There are a multitude of things that we put before God or assign a higher level of importance than God. Whether it’s something that steals our time, attention, money, or priorities, it needs to be weighed in the balance with God.
7) She clings to me for protection. When we go to the vet, Sweet Pea rides in a carrier. She usually yowls all the way until we arrive. The moment we set foot inside the door and she hears dogs barking, she goes into panic mode. Once in the exam room, she wants to climb up on my shoulder and cling to me for safety. God never promised us a life free from adversity, but He did provide His special comfort and sanctuary for His children. When troubles come, (and they surely will) cling to God for protection. Lift up your arms to Him and ask Him to hold you.
Excuse me, I have to go now. Sweet Pea says it’s time for her Yummies.