Lessons from a Cat and a Dog

This was my view this morning as I sat down to write. They don’t know they are supposed to fight one another, according to the world’s standards. The big “loaf” (as my daughter used to call him when she was a tiny one) of a Lab is so full of love, he couldn’t possibly harm a flea. In fact, he has allowed them to take up residence a time or two. The perma-kitten (she’s over a year old and just tiny) has no clue she is not supposed to look to this big black creature for comfort and protection.

She isn’t aware she is really supposed to be raising her back, hissing and clawing his eyeballs out with her razor sharp claws. These two are so confused as to what they are “supposed” to be doing right now, making it all the more adorable.

Or are they confused? We’ve had our Lab since we picked him up as a pup about nine years ago. The kitten, well she was born in our garage just last year. The two have always appeared to have a love for one another. Perhaps this would not have been so, if our K-9 had not received an outpouring of love from his humans the eight years leading up to the tiny feline’s life. Perhaps if he had felt deprived, abused, alone and rejected, he would have felt threatened by this tiny object stealing away any measure of affection from his people, causing him to lash out and attack its innocence. Perhaps the kitten wouldn’t have made it past its first few weeks in our lives, because she and her siblings were invading “his space”.

As I look out my window and see these two being so cute and cuddly, I can’t help but think of all this and then translate it to raising children. No my children aren’t like kittens or dogs to me, but there is a lesson in this image. My big, goofy dog is content. He knows he has everything he needs. His belly is full. He has a place to sleep. He gets to go for runs. He plays fetch. He is protected when nasty storms roll through, taking him back to the days of his youth, convincing him he is again a lap dog. He gets treats and is recognized for doing well. He is rarely scolded (unless he does something really naughty like rolling in

the mud and then attempting to jump on someone). He is at peace and all is right in his world, leaving him to be just the way God planned him to be – love.

The same is true for kiddos. If as parents we provide them food, shelter, exercise, play, protection, acknowledgement of a job well done, and correction when the situation calls for it – they too can live in a place of peace and contentment, allowing them to live as God planned them to be – love.

But what about the parent? Doesn’t the parent also need to have all their needs met, in order to be love to their children, enabling them to be who God needs them to be? Absolutely!

As an adult, all my needs are always met by the Lord. It took me a really long time to allow this to happen in my life though. I had to fight through some pain from the past, memories, and experiences that seemed to shut me off from the love and life force of God (remember, the mind HAS to be RENEWED). Once I began to let go, He let go His blessings in my life and I began to experience peace, contentment and love – which caused me to live love. Life began to balance out once I started eating well, taking care of my temple, exercising regularly, playing more, trusting God was my protector (Psalm 91), believing I was doing what God needed me to do and receiving His confirmation for a job well done, and even embracing His correction in my life (He corrects those He loves, Hebrews 12:6). The result? An outpouring to those around me… including my husband, children, co-workers, friends, family – and yes, my fur-babies.

Wow! Who would have thought there was so much to be seen in such a sweet image? Thoughts? Let me know... Take care!