My mother was dead set against a house pet most of my childhood. An indoor pet was more domestic liability to the church parsonage than she was willing to risk. Her children had no concept of the irreparable damage a domestic animal could do to a borrowed home, but she did and her word was law.
While I was a freshman in high school my parents built a house of their very own. Finally! My siblings and I were free to spill things on the carpet and at last, have an inside pet! Mom still didn’t like the idea, but we prevailed and a nice little Siamese cat came to live with us.
There was never a cat that got more love and attention than “Sam”. At first we observed cat holding schedules because everyone wanted premium petting time. However, if the cat got loose it went directly to mom, without exception. She never sat down without that silly, clueless cat climbing onto her lap. The ungrateful feline loved the very person that initially rejected her. But, mom was the only person that filled the food bowl or emptied the litter box. We were all told to do this chore. It was supposed to be the last thing we did as we left through the back door each morning on our way to the school bus stop, but Greg didn’t do it, I (Gretchen) had my flute and homework to lug, Gayle had her reasons and Gwen was too little to reach the feed bag or toss poop. So, after we all got out the door and the dust settled, mom would find the cat bowl empty and the litter box full. She just fixed the problem, then she and the cat would settle into a few contented moments of solitude before facing the outside world.
Sandy Jones had every right to get rid of the pet her children failed to care for. Other options were making poor Sam wait until we returned home in the evening and then remind us once again to take care of the cat’s needs. Instead, Mom alone did what was right and kept the cat alive.
I will insert here, we were given consequences for neglecting Sam and we learned some very important life lessons as well. The issue of selfish, toxic, taking before we gave was not tolerated. My parents knew, if not arrested, this emotional habit would continue well beyond four Jones children and their pet.
It’s trendy and socially acceptable to take what feels good and leave the object of a so called affection empty and dying of emotional and spiritual starvation. The cost of one’s behavior is often paid by others, but it is just too easy to justify their expense or completely discount it all together. God’s character is not a reflection of taking. He is the patient giver, sustainer of life. His capacity to forgive and His willingness to sacrifice for our wellbeing is unfathomable.
At the end of Jesus’ life in human He faced the betrayal of His dear friend Peter. After walking many miles together, laughing over life’s oddities, standing in awe and wonder at the world’s glories, sharing victories, joys and some sorrows, Peter just couldn’t face the fear and reality of who Jesus really was and His ultimate purpose, to die as a sacrifice. He denied Him not once, but thrice. He left his beloved friend to suffer alone and friendless. But, it didn’t matter! Jesus knew his heart and invited him to be a great giver, “Peter, if you love Me, feed My lambs, take care of My sheep, feed My sheep.”
Our commission is to love, feed, strengthen and encourage each other. If you want to reflect God’s character (and my mom’s), then love and feed…….and maybe even clean up what stinks every once in a while.
Hosanna!
Gretchen
