“A righteous man regards the life of his animal.” Proverbs 12:10a

Big Red

A large orange and white cat found his way to our home. He had been traveling and was dehydrated and suffering from malnutrition. After gaining a little weight and learning to trust us, he became a lover-boy. He would let me pick him up, turn him upside down, and hold him like a baby, while he purred like a kitten! We already had our limit of indoor pets, but he seemed content to be our outdoor kitty along with several others that God sent our way.

At one point, Big Red developed an ear infection. Becoming fearful of us, Red would not let us come near him. Did he think we were the ones causing him pain? I would put food down for him, but he would run away. One night as I was looking for him, I caught a glimpse of him running away as soon as my flashlight shined on him. He climbed up a tree and hid in the branches, but I could clearly see him.

I related to my husband how my heart hurt because I love Big Red, and knew I could alleviate his pain if he would just give me a chance. Then the Spirit of God touched my heart. Oh, that must be how God feels when He loves us so much, wants so badly to help us, fully knowing He can heal our wounds, sorrows, and pain, but we run from Him as if He caused our pain. Sometimes we blame God, thinking that because He is able, that somehow He “could have or should have” stopped our wounds and pain from happening, or even “overrule” our bad choices. “Why didn’t You stop me?” How often we run away from Him and try to hide from Him when He clearly sees us and is reaching out to help.

Updating the condition of Big Red, his ear has collapsed, so he is permanently one-ear-up, one-ear-down, but he has come back to us, lets us stroke his fur, and seems as happy to be back as we are to have him with us.

 “Thank You, Lord, for Your wonderful creation. You created animals to be our companions. In Psalm 36, You preserve both man and beast. In Psalm 147:9 You provide food for the cattle and young ravens. In Matthew 6:26, You are feeding the birds, and in Luke 12:6, You have not forgotten even one of the sparrows. You use animals to speak to our hearts. Thank You that You clearly see us even when we are hiding from You. You love us, know where we hurt, and how to help us if we will just give You a chance. Shake the branches of the trees we hide in and bring us closer to You. Thank You, Lord, that You are our Help in time of trouble, and our Healer when we are hurt.”