10th birthdays

The other day, three of our cats turned ten.  This makes them around 64 human years.  The ‘boys’ as we call them have never had any other human parents; love their younger ‘brother’ Sniffles, and tolerate the dog.  But it started me thinking. I know dangerous, right?  Could we, as humans, live our entire lives with the people we love, depending our Parent to fulfill our needs?

Don’t get me wrong. They are not always happy go lucky OR calm.  They bicker with each other, Sniffles, and us.  They beat up on the dog.  They complain bitterly if they are not fed on their timetable or their litter boxes are dirty.  Sounds like humans, doesn’t it?  If we don’t get our way, we complain.  We always have.  They even try to take matters into their own hands.  For those cat owners, have you ever noticed that they will ignore every grocery sack you bring in until the meat bag is put on the counter?  Or for Moe, potato chips?  (Yes, he likes salty or sweet things.) We even tell God, “No”. They do as well. (A beloved, talkative cat that was ancient in cat years taught them to say no when they were 6 months old. He got into trouble but loved that they could now ‘talk’ back).

Like all ‘children’, there is some discipline that has been brought into their lives. A swat on the nose means “no”.  Diluted vinegar water means go away or ‘shame on you’.  A swat on the backside means that they are in trouble (if we can catch them.  They do have 4 legs instead of our disabled 2).  But sometimes “No, Stop that!” works.  But, they know they are loved.  

The cats have an advantage that we as humans do not. They can crawl in our laps and get love.  They even touch our noses with theirs for a ‘kiss’.  We must trust in the love He has promised us and is evident in our lives every day.  And our fellow humans offer us the love they give, whether it is a hug, handshake or a kiss (for those of us in a human relationship).  But when we ask the Lord for stuff, whether substance or luxury, He answers.  He never gives us a snake or a stone (unless we ask for that) and we need to remember that He cares for us.

The funny thing is that even our pets are reminders of how much He cares for us.  They love us for us and choose to live with us.  They trust us as much as we should trust in Him and quit second guessing His plans for us as He has said that He “has plans to further us and not harm’ us.