TGIF

She’s been gone a month now.

Its been a month since I’ve had to clean up cat vomit.

For 31 days there has been no cat litter in my bed, no cat box to clean.

No one has awakened me an hour before the alarm was to go off.

I can open the door and allow the morning breeze in without worrying if she will slip outside.

Her separation anxiety was great in her last months…I can stay away longer now.

I don’t have her veterinary bills to worry about anymore.

None of these things give me a shred of comfort.

Truth be told, I anticipated all these things in my mind before she passed and they brought me no comfort then, either.

The reason these things bring no balm is that real joy is found in serving someone you love.

Truth be told, I didn’t mind cleaning up after her.

Cat litter in my bed meant she was sleeping next to me.

Cleaning the cat box every day pleased her and it pleased me to please her.

When she woke me up early, it meant both of us had made it through another night.

Her separation anxiety worried me for her…no one gives a damn if I come home or not, now.

I would give anything if she could still be here.

Truth be told, I found great joy in serving my friend.

Truth be told, I received more than I ever gave.

Love lived in serving another is the wellspring of joy.

From the outside it looks like work, inconvenience, and drudgery.

Some will always suggest that it is unnecessary, even a burden to be dumped off as soon as possible.

These are the ones who will also mock your grief and question your sanity as you serve.

They are bent on “enjoying” life while missing what real joy is and will admonish you to do the same.

They will never know the depths of love…until they are in need of being served themselves.

Those of us who follow Jesus follow a suffering servant.

““You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””(Mark 10:42–45 ESV)

He did this for the “joy that set before Him”. (Heb 12:2)

New joy will be found in serving others, human and otherwise, that He brings now…and knowing that those I served before are safe in His company.

Seek joy.

Serve somebody.

Follow Him.

I have to feed Smokey…

Make your own application…