A God Lesson from My Cat

I'm aware that this idea only appeals to a very select audience, but for the 4 of you who read the title and went, "Oooo...," this is for you.

She was quite scraggly when we decided to take her. Allergic to fleas, and covered in their bites, it was definitely a blessing for this cat to be rescued from the outdoors. She's a cross between a tortoise shell and a calico - beautiful colors splashed all over her. Her original "owner" had named her Funny Face. But I know that this soft-spirited kitty did not appreciate it.

I was actually the hold out. I didn't want that cat because she wasn't all that soft, and certainly less approachable than the others. But, there were three cats in the lot, and who were we to break up the "family"? 

We re-named her Reeses due to the chocolate/peanut butter colors spread over her. (OK, so you have to really use your imagination to see it.) And she was the last cat to "come out of her shell," so to speak.

As a matter of fact, the kids are still waiting.

Reeses is my cat. She chose me. She will go to no other person; let no one else pick her up or even touch her. When the kids enter the room, she runs like the dickens. Which is weird, because the kids are the ones who feed her. We have had Reeses for 5 years now, and no child has ever been able to pet her a full stroke.

But once every child has gone to bed, she immediately comes out from hiding and finds me on the couch. It doesn't matter if I have room for her on my lap or not, purring, she will find a space. Heaven forbid, however, if my husband, on the other side of the couch should cross his legs, speak, breath, or in any other way make his presence known. Because that will give me about a 15-minute break from Reeses on my lap.

When the family has gone to work and school, she will often wait for me on "my chair." Usually, she doesn't get up when I try to sit down, so I will actually have to lift her and put her on my lap. And if I stayed in my chair for the whole day, she would stay with me until the first child home from school opens the door. After that, I would see her again around 8:30 pm.

She chose me.

I did nothing to be picked. I didn't even want her in the beginning. Don't think the kids aren't reminding me of this all the time, either. 

I don't know why she picked me. I can brag to everyone about how much she loves me and wants to be with me, but I can't brag about how I deserve it. All I know is that something about being the one who gets her makes me feel pretty special. I'm the one who knows how soft she is. I could swear that cat smiles when she looks at me. 

And she's just a cat.

Imagine how special it feels to be chosen by the God of the universe.


*In case anyone is concerned that I have become some kind of Egyptian cat-worshiper, please let me remind you that this story is just an allegory. I do not think my cat or any other animal is a god. No matter what they themselves think.

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