If you are a regular reader of my blog then you know about Skipper the cat and how he had to be put to sleep several weeks ago.  I neglected to tell you that it wasn’t more than a couple of weeks after that when my daughter came home from a weekend away and deposited a small, less-than-a-pound, fur ball on my lap.  Welcome Oliver the kitten.

Sigh.

Needless to say, he has already stirred my swirling thoughts into producing a story for today.

Oliver is totally cute.  You have to wonder where the batteries go to power this little curious bouncing ball of fluff.  He will play and play and play and play and … then … stop … to crash into exhausted nap mode.  He is so tiny, we have to watch where we step.  Little kittens come with tiny razor sharp claws and teeth.  We have to always be on the lookout … because  … I may be standing at the sink doing dishes … or sitting at the table working … and without warning … little quiet Oliver will suddenly leap at your leg and grab on to your pant legs with all four paws at full claw extension.  YEOW!  He grabs on and CLINGS as if he was wrapped around a tree trunk and then proceeds to climb up my leg until he reaches my lap.  Oww, oww, ow, ow!  Sometimes, when I see him coming, I reach down and lift him to my lap to save myself from his prickling climb up my leg.  Many times he will continue with claws extended to play in my lap and bite and claw at my hands and clothes.  I am not his litter mate.  I don’t like that kind of play and I promptly plop him back on the floor.

It made me think  😉

How many times do we stray from God in our lives, only to suddenly recognize that we need Him?  We then proceed to desperately reach for him in an attempt to grab hold and cling to Him for help.  I can envision God in His greatness, feeling His lost sheep as they grab at his feet in hopes of making it to the comfort of His arms.  “Oh, you’re back!” He might think as He smiles and sees us nearby.   Of course, our great God will always forgive and welcome us back to Him.  But all too often, we reach the safety of his care, only to want to play by our own rules.  I can see God gently placing us back down like I did with Oliver the kitten, only to wait for us to come back again.

Oliver played that game a couple times with me today.  He wanted up so badly that I reached down to lift him to my lap so I wouldn’t have to suffer his sharp claws.  I was more than happy to scratch his ears and give him a warm place to rest.  He was back on the floor several times until he finally got the message that I wasn’t going to play his game of sharp claws and teeth and he finally turned on the purring to enjoy the warmth and safety of my arms.

God loves us and wants us close.  He wants us to cling to Him.  If we have strayed, He is more than joyful to gather us back in His fold.  Then why do we expect to get there and still play the game of life by our own rules?  If our stray path in life has caused us to want to get back on track and back to Christ, we must rest in His arms and let Him take over.  He knows what is best for us.

Thanks Oliver.  Ow, ow, oww, owwww.
You stinky, furry, darling, little pest.

Just Laurel

Psalm 63:8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.

Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.