We have three cats. They are sisters, so they share genes. They’ve grown up in the same home – ours
– and we’ve done our best to make sure they get equal rights, privileges and
love. In spite of that, their personalities are completely unique.
This is Gwinny. Short for Guinevere. She is a complete lady,
secure in her charms. Having perfected the art of the flop, she can melt hearts
in 2 seconds flat. All she needs to do is run across the room with the
purring-meow thing she does, flop on your lap (your book, your work, your
laptop … the effect is the same) and you are hooked. Smitten. Stuck until she
moves. She is the fluffiest of the three and somehow commandeered the soft fur
genes.
The beauty on the right is Ginger. Her fur is more coarse
and from day one, she has been less open to being loved.
The third is Sleepy and she doesn’t feature in today’s
thought. Sorry Sleepy.
Back to the other two – I love cats. In spite of hideous cat
allergies, they make a house a home and add so much life and love. But here’s
the thing that struck me – Gwinny lets me love her. When I bend down to rub her
head, she purrs and pushes against my hand. Ginger cringes and pulls away. Not
all the time, but mostly.
Guess who gets the most evidence of my love...
I love each cat just as much as the other two, but that’s not
what it looks like to someone who doesn’t know me. That got me thinking about
God and His love for us. When He draws close to show us how much He loves us,
do we press into His hand, secure in His love, enjoying His attention? Or do we
pull away?
There are many reasons to hold back, to be wary of opening
up to Him. I know that. But I also know that not one of those reasons comes
from His heart.
Interesting thought, hey?
There
is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,
because fear has to do
with punishment.
The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because
he first loved us.
1 John 4:18-19
Dianne J. Wilson writes novels from her hometown in East London, South Africa, where she lives with her husband and three daughters.
Lovely post, Diane, and so true :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Autumn :) I love how God uses the stuff of real life to speak to us of spiritual things.
DeleteThat rang true to me also, Diane. I can so relate. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you taking time to read and comment Rita, thank you!
DeleteAs a fellow cat lover, I totally "get this" and agree wholeheartedly. I want to be that pussycat that buts my head up and lets the Lord pat me. Thanks for posting this delightful post.
ReplyDeleteI love that you love cats, Christine! I'd love to see pics of yours. :)
DeleteAgreed, Christine. But as I think of the people in my life, I know that they feel love in different ways, and with some respecting their space may communicate love better than touch.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter just lost her cat of sixteen years. Very hard. He was a cuddler. The other cat roams the house looking for him.
I hear you LeAnne, I agree completely - it is the whole love languages thing. When I wrote this, I was thinking more of some of my friends who tend to live with the mindset of 'God won't bless me / I'm not worthy / I'm not good enough'when the truth is that He would love nothing more than to bless them. You can't pour sweeties into a child's hand while its balled into a fist, only when they open up.
DeleteSending love and hugs for your daughter :( That is such a hard thing to work through.
Such a memorable analogy...especially if you're an animal lover. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGod teaches me more through my animals and my children than any other way! So funny. Thank you for reading :)
DeleteIt definitely amazes me how God can love each one of us so individually. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love that He knows just how to love us. He is truly amazing! Thanks, Lisa!
DeleteThank you Di. This is lovely, and so true. It's amazing how much we can learn about God from our animals!
ReplyDeleteThere are lessons all around if we keep our hearts open :) Thank you for taking time to read and comment Shirl xx
DeleteThat was a great analogy, Dianne. Great perspective on it as we can often push God away in times of trial. Thansk for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLeila, I think we would all live very differently if we could see what is in His heart towards us. I often used to think of the hard times as punishment for some wrong doing, but more and more I'm realizing that it is not what is in His heart. Our understanding is limited by experience and upbringing, yet He patiently continues to pour His love over us and into us. Amazing!
DeleteI have two cats like that, but I find myself spending more time coaxing the shy cat to come to me than I do petting the cuddler. There must be a bit of cat perverseness in me too. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHaha! Alice, I love that!
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