TGIF
All the anger and rage and pain and pathos of the world as expressed on social media was taking me down…mentally, physically, and spiritually.
I would delete the worst of the keyboard warriors on Twitter and I would follow…cats.
People create Twitter accounts for their cats and post pictures and videos of the felines as if they were people.
It’s a tad weird at times, but a refreshing break from Covid19 and the coming New World Order.
Like thousands of others, I followed one cat named “Maximus”.
Maximus was a rescue that had survived much pain and trauma and we all loved him and rejoiced at his recovery.
He was a rough and scarred old boy and he inspired and encouraged me.
Then… Maximus died.
Twitter wept.
I wept.
More grief is not what I signed up for.
Then Street Cat Bob passed and Dexter died and others were coming down with terminal diseases and ok, I’ve had enough now…
There’s no escape from the brokenness of this world.
I wonder if we’re supposed to try.
Someone smarter than me said that grief is the proof that love has been present.
Love expands the heart and the spirit…there is no limit to how large a heart you may have.. how many people and pets the heart has room for.
When the object of love is taken, grief will fill the void.
The grief will expand just as the heart has.
To avoid the grief, you must first choose not to love.
They will know us by our…
I’m older now and the love runs deeper and the pain from grief sharper…and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;” (Isaiah 53:3 ESV)
When you follow Jesus, you are transformed into His image.
Every tear and every joy is a prayer…”they kingdom come…on earth…”
Love deeply and grieve hard…
We’re here to embrace, not escape.
I’m better with cats than people…but the transformation is ongoing…
Make your own application…
Love this!!!
Thanks, CK!
It looks like Maximus had a rough go in this world. I pray he’s experiencing the care of His Creator now.
I am glad Jesus is described as a Man of sorrows. Because this life is going to cause a lot of tears. It’s good to know He experiences them with us.
Thank you, Michael. Very good observations.
Thank you, JoelG…and amen…
*thy
The photo of that poor cat, for some reason, reminds me of all our street people. How did we ever come to a place of tents on our sidewalks? Just drugs? A steady dose of propaganda preached in some of our schools?
Well Satan is the master of propaganda, hate – lies. “Eat the fruit, you’ll be wise as God.” 😈
Well, folks, we can’t handle what God knows So….
We probably ought to read the Book He gave us and fall in line?
Trust in the Lord and don’t dispair…. Like the old song says…
Great post, Michael, there lurks somewhere in you the soul of a poet. Between reading Luke 8:9 and following and this post, i have lots to ponder sitting up here in the mountains today – thank you
God keep
This is such a beautiful post. It made me cry, and yet I feel so encouraged and so strengthened for reading it. Have a 93 year-old father living in an assisted living facility in Wisconsin. We were supposed to there visiting with him and my brother for two weeks for our annual June visit. Every day I wake up fearful that I may never see him again. In April I was supposed to be sharing a vacation home with my eldest daughter and her husband and two babies and attending a wedding with them. Last month we had planned a visit to Arkansas to visit my youngest daughter and her husband and see their new house. I miss them all so much it hurts. This post has helped me so much! I know now I should be thanking God every single day that I feel the sadness of missing them; that I have surely been blessed beyond measure by these previous God -given relationships. Thank you so much for a beautiful and priceless message of gratitude, Michael!
Thank you, Em!
B,
Thank you…that’s a beautiful application….
I lost my beloved wife of 37 1/2 years recently. She died on April 29th. It is the most profound grief I have ever experienced. Praise the Lord, she is with Jesus, though.
Rob Diamond,
Profound grief will always follow from the loss of a profoundly loved person. I’m not sure I could handle what you’re living…our hearts and prayers are with you…
“Every tear and every joy is a prayer…” Yes, indeed brother. Great line! And true!
Thank you, Mike!
Amen!
Well said, Michael….
We’re here to love the way God continues to love us, even though we often bring Him no end of grief…
Get or follow some turtles!
They bring us great joy!
And they will likely outlive all of us.
Maximus, like his namesake in Gladiator, fought the good fight and found his peace in death.