TGIF
Many of us have experienced the pain that comes with the loss of a beloved pet.
There are few things more heart rending.
What we don’t usually think of is the pain of a pet when it’s beloved owner dies.
Sadly, that is a situation we’re dealing with in my home.
We have two more cats today.
Last week their momma died unexpectedly.
She loved her cats…and in turn they gave her the kind of affection she found less of from humans.
They were her constant companions through much loss and deprivation.
They are here and safe, but shattered and confused.
They are grieving
They don’t understand.
They can’t understand.
They will live out their lives here and they will be cared for and loved…but they will never be the same.
Those bonds don’t break, they simply wait for reunion.
I , for one, believe there will be a reunion…
I also believe that we can learn something about the heart of God from these bereft cats.
There are things that happen to us that shatter us,confuse us, maybe even break us.
We wonder where God is and why He would allow such things.
Unfortunately,the gap in understanding between ourselves and our God is sometimes greater than that between us and our pets.
We don’t understand.
We can’t understand.
We live out our lives hoping we are cared for and loved by God, but we are never quite the same.
In the meantime, we try to trust..just as our two new friends here will try someday.
We wait for reunions and for the day when God will make all things right .
Those reunions will happen and that day will come.
He promised.
Maybe you needed reminded…
I have to go minister to some cats…
Make your own application…
Gen 2:18-22
“Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.
The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.
So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.”
i didn’t quote the above to lecture, but to ponder… it is pretty clear that God made the animals for man, so doesn’t that infer that we are responsible for them?
it is a sad thing to face that so few folk today find their life partner as God’s perfect design intended… often we can’t even be kind to each other…
God knew how this scenario would play out and i think He did create the animals for man’s good… in so many ways… talk to the animals? indeed
i made the decision to not adopt a pet because of my age (the animal would outlive me and people don’t want old animals – thank God for Michael, but the Michaels are few)… so God moved me up here in the mountains with the animals, other peoples’ and wild ones 🙂
i talk to them and they understand feelings, if not words… cats, dogs, horses (especially horses) even some birds do…
but the deer? not so much – i do think i know why they run in front of cars, not away from them – they think the car is chasing them (if they can think – dunno) and they try to stay in front…
enough extrapolating off of Michael’s observations… but grateful for another good ponder
Thank you for caring, Michael. I look forward to learning more about these two new members of the Phoenix Preacher staff.
Love this so much. Made me cry, actually…… our losses change us and we are never the same….. so deep, so true.
Lord bless these little kitties as they mourn the loss of their Cat Mom…. provide abundantly for them at Michael’s casa, help them to get along with Miss Kitty and Chester…. may grace and peace be multiplied to all
thanks for being a great Cat Dad, Michael…Lord bless you.
I firmly believe that animals mourn losses in their pack, troop, etc. How and why is a mystery only the Lord is privy too. But practically, I understand how it rends our hearts. And one day my mom will pass away and I will be left with one other family member left here, as opposed to the four I grew up with. I can already feel the loneliness at times. I can also sense that I will feel that loss of care. Hoping that God becomes more real in those times.
Love your heart for the cats Michael!
Dan @ 4: As one that’s lost his mom and only has the 1 main immediate family member left, and that used to really fear life without my mom and how I’d make it with the pain and so forth, I will just encourage you that God proved Himself faithful for me in giving me all I needed when I needed it and definitely became even more real to me, and I believe the same would be true for you. I have been meditating as of late on just how God really is with us through it all. He is your constant friend and is with you all the way brother come what may. 🙂 Peace and blessings! 🙂
Thanks Chris!