TGIF
Max has always been a strange cat.
Before I learned his given name, I called him Marcel…because he never spoke and mimed everything he wanted to communicate.
He comes in a couple of times a day to eat, but never speaks, never stays, and he doesn’t like affection.
I’ve always honored his choices and pretty much have his “language” down.
Yesterday he came in as usual, sat down in front of the dish, turned his back on me and waited.
That’s my cue…
I said hello…he looked over his shoulder…not to return my greeting, but to get me moving.
I got up and deposited the food I know he prefers in the dish and sat back down at my desk.
He didn’t begin to eat, but looked over his shoulder at me again.
This puzzled me so I got down on the floor with him…he was staring me down.
I opened some treats he always devours… he wouldn’t look at them, but stared at me.
Then he stood up and looked back…where there was a nasty gash in his side.
This I acknowledged…then and only then, did he eat.
He didn’t want help.
He didn’t want fixed.
He wanted someone to know that something painful had happened to him and for a silent moment share in that pain and show concern.
He wanted a witness.
He wanted a friend…on his own terms, but a friend, nonetheless.
I am honored that he allowed me to be the one to do so.
Sometimes, the best friends are the ones who see and acknowledge our pain as we sit in silence.
God bless the ones who see and affirm without trying to fix what is unfixable by them.
The only One who can fix the unfixable is called “El Roi “in the Hebrew Scriptures.
“The God who sees me”.
The God who sees you.
Who sees and cares and has shared in the pain you feel…even when He is silent.
He sees.
Me, you, …and Max too…
Make your own application…
Absolutely lovely. Glad to see the “Cat Man” back following the grief you must still have
Thank you, prodinov…
Nice to meet Max.
Thanks, AA…
Poor little Max.. . He came to his human friend and felt safe…..
My daughter’s old cat, Stickie (don’t ask), runs when i come in the room. I accidentally stepped on her once. But if i am in the kitchen, she follows me in, goes to the fridge and politely, quietly meows. Yes, sometimes i find her a treat in there. A smidge of roast chicken usually…. Yesterday the old cat caught a mouse and left it in the hall outside my bedroom door. A thank you? Bit i am not forgiven for stepping on her – she still runs….
I hope that i trust God even when it hurts, even when i don’t understand. .
God keep all here and protect Michael as he faces this scary surgery – know all here are praying ! ! !
Thank you, Em!
Em,
Kitties are quick learners when it comes to avoiding pain. I watch my walker around my cat, but one day her tail got a little too close to the wheel and I accidentally clipped her. It hurt, but there was no damage (I checked her carefully). She still follows me around the house, always careful to stay in front of or behind the walker. My former kitty just used to ride around on the seat of my walker. She figured out the wheel danger very quickly.
As to application (for Michael), I have had so many lessons in God seeing my pain, physical or emotional. On a day when I’ve been lonely and someone just dropped by or called, I know that was Him. When I was nervous and unsure about a situation, God stepped in by altering the circumstances or calming me down. I think, because I live alone, I am much more aware of His presence.
Linn, i am sorry to hear of your physical pain – Praying God continues to give you strength and perspective…
Good observations in your 10:58 – thank you for sharing them with us all
Linn,
I pray you continue to sense His presence as He cares for you in the quiet timesā¦.
Michael,
A humorous (and true) meme regarding cats (with an Egyptian mythology reference):
https://www.eatliver.com/good-good-cats/
Lovely story with great truth.
Now, if later this month you want us to silently witness your surgery scars, that will be fine. Just post the photos and we will acknowledge them too. š In the meantime, we will keep praying for a successful surgery, my online friend.
sounds like a beautiful love story…..just knowing that someone sees me….sees my pain….my scars…..big brother you have such a great talent. Putting into words the things God wants us to learn, to hear. A talent of seeing a lesson from God in everyday events and sharing that so clearly with us.
Dern cats! I’m not a cat fan, nor a cat hater, but this lesson was a great one demonstrating validation. Max is my son’s name, too. I imagine myself in my 60s when Big Puppy passes, getting a cat or three. Dogs might be too hard to handle by then.
I might be wrong, often I was reminded what an “emotional” brother I was until I became an “emotional” apostate. But I think God incarnates in the “mundane” elements of this plane of existence. I think those echoes of grace shine through so much of the “normal” world because we could not survive full on grace, glory, compassion, justice, and reconciliation we would melt. So through the table of bread and whine, smiles of children, comfort from a fellow traveler i.e. cat/dog/pet. Through family and familiarity along with surprise God reaches us, always.
brian, good words….
God does reach us by this miracle, a part of His character, called grace. ..
At least He reaches the humble. His Book tells us that He resists the proud…. sometimes i think pride is my Achilles heel….