TGIF

Cats, like people, are creatures of habit…and a change in habit usually means something.

For years, Miss Kitty has slept with me…curling up beside my leg until staying there until it was snack time.

Then, she would walk up my slumbering frame and wake me by kneading my head until I rose and fed her.

One night a few weeks ago, her sleeping habits changed.

She wanted to sleep on my chest or on my side.

It wasn’t real comfortable for either one of us, but I got used to it.

Then I woke up one night with her kneading hard on my chest and her head almost stuck in my mouth.

It happened a few more times until the light went on in my head.

I have sleep apnea and often stop breathing in my sleep.

Miss Kitty does not know what sleep apnea is, but she sensed that something was not right with her dad.

She would be a furry CPAP machine…resting on my chest so she could feel it going up and down and putting her head close to my mouth to feel my breath.

The furious kneading was her way of making me wake up and breathe.

How in the world can an animal know these things?

She correctly discerned that something was wrong and even had a primitive notion of what needed to be done.

My only guess is that it has something to do with the bond between us and instincts.

The greater question in my mind is why humans seem to be loosing both those sort of instincts and the bonds that give them life…

I fear that instead of honing both our ability to sense need in each other through whatever cues we are given, the only cues we recognize are the sounds and notifications of our phones and other technological devices.

Because our attentions are so diverted in so many ways we cannot bond as we ought and our isolation is soon to become inbred.

Worse yet, we cannot hear the voice of the Spirit because we are subconsciously listening for the beeps, buzzes, and rings, that signal we are missing something, somewhere.

Silence is dreaded and emptiness must be filled with whatever meme is available.

“Alexa, please say something!”…

They delivered a real CPAP machine yesterday and I thank God for it.

I thank God even more that paws won’t work on touchscreens…and for reminding me that real life comes from bonding with Him and the people and creatures He has so graciously given us.

We were created for relationship with Him and each other and we only truly live when those relationships are cultivated and carefully nurtured.

May He make me more like Him…and my cat…who doesn’t own a smartphone, but who owns the heart of her dad.

Make your own application…