Sometimes we have mental epiphanies that come like a dousing of cold water. One such mind-boggling realization came to me in an unexpected way—petting my little six-pound rescue cat.
I am not—or was not—a cat person. I didn’t like cats. Give me a dog any day over the feline of God’s critters. That is, I wasn’t ... until a certain scrawny, black, stray cat appeared one afternoon and insisted on joining my dog and me on our daily walk. This happened every day for two weeks. Not only did this meowing little creature follow us as we made our three-quarters-of-a-mile walk, she also made repeated attempts to leap into my arms or crawl onto my lap and snuggle when I sat on the porch.
After another week of emotional nagging, a stray cat with beautiful green eyes adopted me. I now have a rescue dog and a rescue kitty. The latter lavishes more unadulterated love on me than I’ve ever experienced before. The epiphany? If a dumb creature—an insignificant stray cat, of which the world seems to have too many—can love that simply, purely, and whole-heartedly, how much more can a human being love?
Human beings, made in the image and likeness of God, should be able to change the course of mighty rivers with their love. If a tiny scrap-of-a-kitten is capable of so much tenderness and adulation, how much more sensitivity and awe can a human being produce?
My little cat has taught me more about the power and awesomeness of love than anything I’ve read or seen in all my years on this earth. Verses like, Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love, seem crystal-clear now. Love is overwhelming, remarkable, breathtaking, incredible, and extraordinary. Love is one big WOW.
Start loving like little stray kittens, and let the world see how great love really is.
(Photo courtesy of office.microsoft.com.)
(For more devotions, visit us at www.christiandevotions.us.)
Loved this, Teresa. It's a good example of the unconditional agape love we talked about at our last ACFW-SC chapter meeting and which I am blogging on! My little mini-dachshund showers me with it, too. I am sending a big shower of agape TO YOU. Elva Cobb Martin www.elvamartin.com
Great comparison Theresa. Since I have two stray cats I can relate. Sometimes I get to much love and choke on the fur. :)
Sounds like a great therapy animal! Working with therapy dogs, seeing how they love all people, regardless of age, stature, race, etc., proves that God gave all of us, animals and humans, the capacity to love like He does! Check out the opportunities to spread their love in your area!