TGIF

I had to take Liam to the cat emergency room the other night.

This is always difficult…Liam hates to ride in the car and he loathes veterinarians.

Both of these would seem odd if you knew Liam…he’s the most chill cat I’ve ever known…a cool cat if you will.

He’s easy going and affable…right up to the point when he’s put in the car.

He cried loudly all the way across the valley to the hospital, then cried even louder when they took him to the back for examination.

That was the end of crying, scared Liam…now it was time to fight if need be.

The vet tech tried to take his temperature but a low growl from the depths of his feline soul convinced her that was a bad idea.

The tech asked the doctor for help…so the doctor sedated The Prince of Floof and tried again.

He laughed at her puny sedation and swatted the wicked spear from her hand.

We still don’t know if he had a fever…

Thank God, after all the tests they could find nothing wrong with him.

We finally started home after seven traumatic hours for both of us.

He cried all the way home despite all my efforts to comfort him.

I loaded him and his carrier back in the house and got ready to let him out…this cat…my friend… is going to hate me for months, I thought.

What happened instead was that my friend was so glad to be home that he kept me up for another hour rejoicing.

He purred and rubbed against my legs back and forth, chattering his thanks to be safe again….it felt like groveling and it made me feel worse.

Still I was relieved that instead of hating me for the trauma, he loved me for bringing him home.

I learned much on that dreadful night.

First, there is no power that will defeat a person (or cat) that is able to fight with tears in his eyes.

Many of the battles we will be called to undertake will be ones that break our hearts to engage…but we will do so for love and righteousness sake.

Second, real love always survives the journey to hell and back…but you only know that when you take the journey and get back from it.

My anger at God on the way to the vet was both deep and blasphemous…the thought of losing another friend when I need friends more than ever was more than my heart and my theology could handle.

I was still upset when I got home, though grateful that Liam had come home with me…I had seen others leave the hospital carrying nothing but an empty leash.

I didn’t settle until the next day…morning prayer found me forgiven…even without the groveling gratitude poor Liam thought he had to display to avoid something else painful happening.

God does not demand groveling.

God is good…even when life is hard…and I am not.

I do not understand…but I believe…help my unbelief…

Some unbelief can’t be helped until we get home…

Make your own application…