Of Cats and People
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Illustration
by Angela Akers

I want to share a little essay that one inspired author wrote about his cat. It’s titled “Of Cats and People” and it was shared via a website called www.laughandlift.com. It’s by Michael Newnham:

“Lord, this cat you gave me . . . she just doesn’t listen. I told her the rains were coming . . . she goes out anyway and comes back soaked. I told her not to lie in weeds . . . yet every day she comes in and expects me to pull all the stickers out of her fur . . . from lying in the weeds. I told her that as much as it’s up to her to be at peace with all cats . . . yet she expects me to tend to her wounds from the fights she is always in.

“She embarrasses me in front of the neighbors by instigating disputes with their cats . . . she thinks she owns the whole block. She is constantly doing what she ought not to do and suffering the consequences. Worse, she seems to blame all her misfortunes on me . . . at least she expects me to deal with all the results of her disobedience. I always do, but she never seems to learn. Furthermore, Lord . . . she has never missed a meal, but when she’s hungry she yowls as if she hasn’t had a meal in weeks.

“She makes it sound as if I’m a negligent and cruel father. The truth is that I always feed her and even give her treats. Just wanted you to know . . . To top it all off, she is often distant and ignores me until she wants attention or me to provide something. This cat makes me feel used. Sometimes I wonder if she loves me, or just loves what I can give her. It’s a pretty one-sided relationship. Despite all of this, I love the cat and I’ve chosen to keep her. Lord, that makes no sense, but I know you’ll understand . . .” Then the author adds this note: “Make your own application.”

What’s that all about? Could he be saying that cats and people are not all that different from one another, but still the Father loves us?

ChristianGlobe Network, Inc., by Angela Akers