Family
Having already lived eight of his nine lives, my cat Texas has survived into his dotage. This morning he keeps me company as I mop the front porch. Only his eyes follow my back and forth movements.
“Texas you’re Mommy’s precious baby boy, aren’t you.”
He’s a chin-doddering old grandpa.
“Texas is the handsomest cat in the whole world, right?”
His coat is patchy and he limps.
“Texas loves his Mommy, so-o-o much, doesn’t him?"
I’m his meal ticket.
“Texas is my sweetie-comes.”
He drools and he has bad breath.
For some, their love would long since have cooled for an object like Texas. But to me my pet seems less the old shoe to be cast aside- much more, our family treasure.
“All I can say is Texas is one lucky cat to have you for a mom,” my husband is fond of saying as he looks disparagingly at the raggedy old man. “He wouldn’t last a day on his own outside our fence: some coyote or fox would have him for dinner.”
I lift my pet to eye level, careful of his dignity and fragility. “I double-dog dare them.”
Cuddling him for a moment, I tug one ear and then the other. Gently, I put him down.
When he was a tiny kitten with out-sized paws and a fluffy orange coat, Texas lived in a cave back of our property. We brought him in, sheltered and civilized him. He became part of our family.
From the beginning, the little scamp had power to call forth my most tender and protective feelings. This morning I sense God’s presence and He tells me I have that same power over Him.
“There was a time when you also ran wild in the world, at the mercy of any predator on the prowl," He causes me to understand. "Just as you pitied a helpless kitten, when I took you under my wing I became your refuge and your shelter.”
Now I wouldn't be so foolish as to compare the earthly affections we humans feel for our pets with the illimitable love God has for His adopted children. But I do believe He gives us tiny earthly beads of light affording just a glimpse of Heaven's rich borealis.
Unless Jesus comes fairly soon, or I go to Him in the meantime,, I too will grow old and feeble, like Texas. My chin will dribble and my hands tremble: my flesh will gradually weaken. But God’s love for me will never diminish, never grow old. When I have creases and dents, snaggles and snarls, Jesus assures me I will not lose my place in His heart. When I'm huddled under my blanket of old age and long for a touch of human kindness, He will make things better for me somehow: ease my path in ways I cannot now foresee. When I peer into the lens of my latter years, it seems murky and foggy, and fearsome. But He promises. Nothing can stand in the way of His love.
But for the moment I must shove my reflections aside and return to the task at hand. I am now ready to rinse the porch. I activate the spray nozzle on the hose, something which would cause most cats to sprint for their lives. But Texas has his reasons not to get in a hurry. To begin with, because I have never subjected him to the indignity of spraying, he has little to fear from the spit of water needles. His life with our family began with a startling trust, and it appears it will finish with a more mellow version of that same sweet faith in the humans who took him in.
Secondly, at his age moving too fast can be mighty painful.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
WHAT a precious story and a great analogy. Thank you for sharing this story. It tugged at my heart strings.
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 1428 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Janice Cartwright or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 1428 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.