TGIF
It was one year ago this morning that my beloved friend Chester went on before me.
I miss him a lot… Miss Kitty still looks for him and calls for him.
We’ll both see him again, but not for a while.
It’s not that I have the day of his departure written down…it’s that my spirit remembered that something awful had happened around this time.
It didn’t take long to remember what that “something” was.
They say that your body remembers traumatic events and on the anniversaries of those traumas, it reacts with sickness or depression.
I’m at the age now when the number of those traumas fill more of the calendar than those days that are free from it.
Still, I’m also to the point with this trauma that I can smile at the memories of an exceptional friend rather than simply shedding tears that he’s gone.
Chester taught me something while he was here that I will carry with me until he’s in my lap again.
Chester wasn’t worried about comfort, he only cared about closeness.
He was one big cat and he wasn’t used to being around people.
He was so big that he couldn’t fit on my lap without sliding off one side or the other.
It wasn’t comfortable for either one of us, but he just wanted to be close.
Once when I had the plague/flu and had horrible chills he tried to help.
He climbed in bed , got under the electric blanket and the piles of other blankets , got as close as he could, and purred as hard as he could next to my face.
As he was already wearing a fur coat, he had to be miserable.
The purring worked and I soon fell asleep…but he stayed there until I woke up.
His only concern was staying close to the person he loved.
Life gets less and less comfortable as we age and those remembered traumas fill our days with memories of past pain and the fear of pain to come.
I’ve given up on expecting much comfort in this life…but it’s bearable if I know that Jesus is with me in it.
I care a lot less these days about comfort and a whole lot more about closeness.
I pray less about provision and more about presence.
I can handle the pain, but the void will ruin me.
Chester was noisy and ever present physically… I have to practice knowing the presence of God.
I’m still practicing.
He’s here.
Thank you for everything, Chester…I miss you a lot.
I’ll see you soon… the first time I see Him.
Make your own application…
Lovely. Your cat friend set a good example.
His difficult life eventually led to a good season of life of being content and giving what he had to give.
A good example.
He was thankful for your home, food, provision and friendship.
“in this world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world”…. John 16:33. Chester made the best of his tribulations in this challenging life. Giving love, showing care.
Purring. My favorite ‘song’. Worship.
The song of contentment. (cats also purr when afraid and in pain)… a good example.
Well done, Chester. See you again.
Thank you, Paige…yes, we will.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful reflection.
We lost our gentle and kind dog a year ago in May. Though we have a pup now we still feel the loss. These creatures have unique personalities that can’t be replaced. We will miss them, always.
Several weeks ago my therapist and I simply sat quietly in Jesus’ presence. It was a powerful experience that I will never forget.
Life gets so chaotic and we forget that He is always present with us no matter what is happening around us. I’m learning (slowly) to simply stop and be in His presence.
What a great comfort…
Thank you for “getting It”, Joel…I learn better from pets than people…even spiritual things…
Today is my beloved mother’s birthday. She passed on over a year ago after living a long and full life. I’m thankful that the suffering and weakness of age is behind her now, but I sometimes I still ache for the comfort and support that only a dear mother can give.
Michael, thanks for a sweet reminder of remembering and cherishing our departed loved ones- be they fur-covered or flesh-toned. Thanks again, brother.
I think – dunno – that Jesus wept at Lazarus ‘ tomb as much for Lazarus as he did for Lazarus ‘ sisters … Eternity in Jesus presence? Who’d want to come back here?
But i confess that Michael’s post has me remembering a horse whose remains rest on my acreage here and an icy, snowy day when i had to bring their feed up the hill to them. He and his sister placed themselves one on each side of me. Instead of snitching hay from the sled as i drug it, it dawned on me, as they carefully took one step each time i did that they were helping me drag the hay up to their shelter – has me wondering if i could be more helpful. .
EricL,
Blessings on you and your mom…thank you.
“Who’d want to come back here?”
Me.
I love it here and I’ll love the new version even more.