TGIF

When my old friend Smokey died , it seemed like a part of me died with him.

I’m at that age when the losses pile up and crush you…the weight of the Fall suffocates us.

Loosing my companion led to depression…no matter how difficult things got my feline friend had been there for me, a comfort as I navigated life’s difficult waters.

The most difficult water was being the caretaker for my mother as dementia continued to ravage her brain.

Those close to me thought it best to move her to a facility equipped to handle such people with grace…I thought it best to try to allow for her to die at home among familiar surroundings and with her own cat.

I believed this is what the Lord would have me do.

I try to honor what the Father wants.

It has been…difficult.

My godson and his mom (who has been a friend for 30 some years) saw that I was drowning and made up reasons why Liam should live with me after growing up with them.

He and I had always got along well…I was there when he was adopted and we have been buddies ever since….so Liam came to live with me.

It was an adjustment for both of us.

My other cats had all been strays I rescued from the bushes and the streets and their gratitude formed a bond between us that will last beyond all of our deaths.

Liam, on the other hand…had never wanted for anything, ever.

He was well fed, well cared for, and well loved.

When he moved in it was almost as a roommate who paid half the bills…he wasn’t simply happy to have a home…he’d always had one and this one better be good.

The trouble started when my strays who’ve ate here for years moseyed in for lunch.

Liam made them vacate the residence in haste…he’s a big boy and they fled in fear.

I let it be known that this was utterly unacceptable…this was their home too when they chose it to be.

Liam could not understand why I would allow such low life in the house…and let them eat his food out of his dish.

Today, Max and Cinnabon can walk in and eat…even scratch on the door to be let in, if I’ve closed the cat buffet for the night.

Liam watches, even occasionally glares from his perch on the bed…but there are no growls or threats from him.

The strays are still a bit nervous , but nervous is better than hungry and they still have a place to eat.

What changed Liam?

I never “punished” him…I did chastise him and express my disappointment in his manners.

He changed…because he wanted to please his father.

I know that if he had a choice, he would whip both strays soundly and take a nap.

He’s choosing to be better than that because it pleases me when he is.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I find myself doing a bunch of stuff I don’t want to do and not doing a bunch of stuff I really want to do.

I want to say things I shouldn’t say and do things I ought not do.

I do the hard stuff…because i know it pleases the Father.

It doesn’t usually please me.

Liam gets treats every time he behaves…we wait for treats that never come…in this life.

By faith, I believe we’ll get ours later.

“Well done, good and faithful servant…your good and faithful cats have been waiting for you”.

That will be enough…more than enough.

It will mean I really did please the Father.

That may be a first…

Do the hard stuff.

Make your own application…