Knowing the will of "Kitty"
"Kitty"
is a 30 plus pound oversized gray tabby cat who joined
our family several years ago because friends of ours could not
take him to their new retirement home. He is the most
strong-willed pet we have ever experienced. He always gets
his way by hook or crook.
When he wants to sleep on our bed and we firmly push him off,
he bounces like a fly-back ball and paddle from the floor to the
bed, again. He never gives up. He sleeps on his side
of the bed, now. He can make his will known. He
knows how to use others to get his will, too.
When he wanted to go outside in the morning, he would meow in
front of the door until I would have to put my coffee down and
go to the door. I resolved to let him meow until I
finished my coffee. I will not be mastered by a cat!
It is my house and my morning coffee. "Kitty" did not
agree with my resolve. He just changed his tactics. He
would use my wife to get his way.
My wife, Lisa, takes great pride in her house, inside and
out. She is a meticulous decorator and house keeper.
Everything has to be perfect. "Kitty" seems to know this.
Now, when he wants out, he no longer uses his ineffective
"meow", he takes his oversized claw and slowly scratches it
vertically down our freshly painted wall next to the door.
The terribly irritating noise it makes communicates to my wife's
home pride-he will blemish the "perfect" decor of the den.
"Look what 'Kitty' is doing to the wall!, Go, let him out before
he ruins it!" Like "Kitty", my wife's will is strong, too;
too strong, especially in the area of our home. "Two is
greater than one." "Kitty" wins again in the test of wills.
"I am undone!"
Now "Kitty" just calmly goes to the door in the middle of my
morning coffee break and looks over his shoulder at my wife.
I know the message of "Kitty's" immutable will. I
surrender, again, daily. I do the will of "Kitty". I can hear
him, now, load and clear, in the stillness of the morning.
"Open the door and let me have my way." The door is opened
and the rest of the morning remains to be enjoyed in peace and
harmony in my home."
I have even found the secret of enjoying my coffee break,
uninterrupted and in peace. All I have to do is go to the door,
first, open it and ask, "Kitty, do you want to go outside?"
"Kitty" gets his way with me, and he doesn't even have to ask
any more. I know his will, now, because it is part of my life,
every morning. I am at peace.
"Kitty" has taught me how to know the will of God without him
having to force it on me through disturbing my peace and the
peace of others close to me because of my selfishness. Listen
before he speaks, open the door, first, and enjoy my peace
after I have submitted to His perfect will.
P.S. My wife loves me more for loving "Kitty"; so does
"Kitty".
John 14:14-17 (MsgB)
Whatever you request in this way, I'll do.
[15] "If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. [16]
I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend
so that you will always have someone with you. [17] This Friend
is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in
because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to
look for. But you know him already because he has been staying
with you, and will even be in you!
Pastor John
