“When the Lord your God brings you into…houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant- be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Deuteronomy 6:10-12
Sleek, black, confident…some may even say fat, but I prefer the word “fluffy,” my cat, Spooky, is all that; or like most cats, she thinks she is!
My gorgeous cat didn’t always boast that beautiful appearance, however. I will never forget the day she showed up in our yard on a warm, fall day more than a year and a half ago. She was not quite fully grown, her long tail looking extra long on her skinny, black body. Someone had clearly set her out.
And it was her lucky day! We live in an old, fixed up farm house that belonged to my husband’s grandparents. Our home sits back off the road with many acres of family land surrounding us - pastures, fields…Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes we have a problem with mice!
It just so happened that very morning I had seen a little mouse behind the glass in our gas logs. I cringed at the thought of it making its way into my living room! When I addressed it with my husband, I declared, “We need a cat!”
He just gave me one of his looks, like yeah, right!
So with a little begging and coaxing, I convinced him to let us keep her. A stop by Food Lion later that evening to purchase some Deli Cat – dry food seemed to be the most economical and the famished feline would certainly be appreciative of anything, I was sure.
As soon as I returned home, I emptied some of the dry mix onto a paper plate and set it outside. She wasted no time gobbling it all up! The next morning, as I started the coffee, I awoke to loud, hungry MEOWS outside my kitchen window. Again, she seemed to treasure every morsel of her meal…we had adopted a cat!
The original plan was for her to stay totally outside. Then the freezing temperatures of winter soon came and we let her inside the garage…eventually progressing into the house. Now, it’s not unusual for her to curl up on the bed with me at night! She’s come a long way baby!
Believe it or not, Spooky has become high maintenance! My once starving stray, grateful for anything to eat, is now finicky…she now turns up her nose at the dry, Deli Cat and prefers Fancy Feast and Friskies wet, canned food!
Two cans a day is now her average consumption! My sweet, homeless stray that according to the vet is even missing a few teeth from her time spent surviving on her own, is living large at the Long house!
Observing her, I can’t help but be reminded of what Moses tells the Israelites in Deuteronomy – “when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” (vs. 11-12)
God loves all of His creation, animals included. I believe with all my heart that He led Spooky to our house and He softened my husband’s heart, even allowing a tiny mouse to make an appearance that morning, thus creating our “need” for a cat.
But like the Israelites, it didn’t even take two years for Spooky to forget where she came from…wanting more, expecting more, taking it all for granted!
How many times do I take it for granted, forgetting where I came from? – my sinful past, my need for Jesus to save me, they way He loved me when I had felt so unwanted, all those times He provided for my family and met my needs when I didn’t see a way out…
Life hasn’t always been easy. He has healed a lot of hurts and worked all things for good.
Lord, help me to never forget that You are the One who provides all good things. I never want to forget where I came from, because when I remember my life before I truly found You, it was like wandering in a hopeless desert. May I always remember that You are the One who meets my every need and may I always be content with the blessings You provide.
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