TGIF

A couple weeks ago, Smokey decided he lived here, not just ate here.

I knew that because after eating his dinner just outside the door, he strolled in, jumped on the bed, and went to sleep.

That’s pretty much where he stayed until Monday morning.

Monday morning was when I took him to the vet to get neutered.

He hasn’t come in the house since then.

He thought he’d finally found a safe place and a safe person in this world and now he’s not sure either one is safe at all.

First he was tricked into a cage.

Then he was taken for a ride…the vet thinks it was probably the first time either had happened to him…both terrified him.

He was deposited in a strange place with strange people and “abandoned”.

He fell asleep and woke up with parts missing.

When I came to pick him up I could hear him in the back room loudly cursing the place, the people there, and the guy that brought him.

This clinic usually fawns over my cats…the best they could do with Smokey was “good luck”.

He was forced into the carrier again and off we went.

I brought him home and expected he would sleep on the bed until he recovered…when I opened the cage he spat, cursed me thrice, and wheeled about like a drunk trying to get outside before the anesthesia wore off.

He’s still angry.

He feels betrayed.

He’s not just angry at me, he hates the other cats who do come inside.

He sleeps just outside the gate with one eye open…and attacks any who try to enter.

It’s a difficult situation.

There are people today who feel the same way about God and the church as Smokey does about me and our home.

They thought they were safe, but it hasn’t turned out to be safe at all.

They are angry, they feel betrayed, and they don’t have much use for Christians who still go where those things happened.

I don’t blame Smokey and I don’t blame my brethren for feeling that way.

When you support churches that abuse, you abuse again those victimized there.

I took Smokey to the vet with his well being being my priority, though I knew there would be temporary pain.

God did not intend you to be afflicted in His house…that came at the hand of people who know Him only by hearsay.

I will keep caring for Smokey despite his anger.

God will do the same for you.

I hope you both come back in…

Make your own application…