The World Isn't Purrfect
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008
It was about a year ago when we adopted our cat Teddy. I’m used to cats because we had a few when I was growing up. But Megan and Josh haven’t had one before. I forgot about that. One night not long after we got him, Megan called out to me in a panicked voice. She sounded like she could burst into tears at any moment. So I went as quickly as I could into her room. Megan said, “Mom, what’s wrong with him? He’s making a funny noise!!” Well of course, being the rock steady personality that I am (WHATEVER!!!!) – I mean being the worry wart that I am, naturally I leaned close to Teddy and listened with baited breath.
After a minute or so, I began to chuckle, and ever so slowly I began to laugh harder and harder until I had tears rolling down my cheeks. Indeed the noise was nothing to be concerned about! It was only Teddy purring! After I quit laughing long enough to take a breath, I was able to explain to Megan that a purring sound meant that he was happy- not that there was something wrong with him!
I was reminded of that today when I saw Megan holding Teddy. And I realized that Megan was scared of the sound because she didn’t know what it was. She was scared of what she didn’t understand.
Even we as adults are scared of things that we don’t understand. Take for instance the circumstances that I’m in now. If I stop and think long enough about all the “what-if’s” , I could scare myself half to death. There are so many possible outcomes that I can get my brain all in a twisted muddle trying to figure out what could happen if this occurred, or if that were to happen. And then don’t even get me started on when I think about what I would have to do to adapt in each situation…. It makes me dizzy just thinking about how I think about things!
And I don’t know about you, but another thing that I don’t understand is death and heaven. I’m finding out that the more I learn, the more questions it leads to. I’m a person who likes to understand things, so when I figure out that in essence, I really know nothing, that can be a little overwhelming.
But, even though this world isn’t “purrfect”, I know Someone who is! Isaiah 26:3&4 say, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.” And Isaiah 55:8&9 say, “ ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways’, declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ ”.
I may not understand everything that happens in my life. I might not be able to give my kids the best reason why “bad” things happen. And I most certainly don’t know everything there is to know about what life in heaven will be like. But I do know that God knows ALL of the answers! So when my mind starts to race with all the what if’s, I can tell my inquiring mind to take a break!! And instead of worrying myself sick, I can “cast all of my anxiety upon the Lord, for He cares for….” me.“ (1 Peter 5:7) And you! And our kids, and our parents, and our aunts and uncles, and our cousins, and our grandparents, and our friends and our pastors, and, well…. You get the drift!!
Lord, thank You that You are my Rock Eternal! Thank You that You don’t allow me to know everything there is to know because You know all too well that my puny little brain wouldn’t be able to deal with all of it! Please help me to learn to castall of my anxiety on you, because I know You can handle what I can’t! And Lord, please help others to see that I alone can’t have the "peace that passes understanding” without You! I love You, Lord, and am so greatful that You love me enough to carry me through all of the moments in this life that are too hard for me to go through alone! AMEN!
POSTED BY KRISTIN AT 6:11 PM