NAUGHTY OR
NICE
Even
our pets can teach us something about the ways of God...
While
browsing through a shop in Peddlers Village (Lahaska, PA), I came across this
cute little ornament with a puppy (who looked remarkably like my Shih Tzu, Glory) with a
little Santa cap on it's head. The caption read, "Dear Santa, define
naughty".
Well,
my sister Sue and I had a good laugh over it, because I could just picture Glory
saying that (if she could talk, that is...)
Glory
tries to play with the cats. Hope mostly hides from her, but Grace will
allow herself to be chased. But one day, I guess Grace felt cornered in the
living room. Next to the Christmas tree. I was sitting on the sofa
and all of a sudden, I heard a little rustle and saw the tree sway
slightly. My coworker Chris had mentioned earlier that day how she has to keep
her cats away from the Christmas tree, or they'll climb it. "I'm
lucky," I said. "My cats don't do that..."
But
later that evening, my Christmas tree was rustling and swaying! So I got up and peered
inside the tree... and there was Grace, perched on a branch! She was too far
in for me to grab her and I had no choice but to wait it out (and pray that the
tree wouldn't topple over).
Well,
as I was waiting, I decided I might as well get out my camera! So I took a few
photos, then led Glory out of the room and hoped that Grace would live up to her
name as she exited the tree, gracefully...
It
was 11pm by then, and I sent the photo to Sue. "Guess who is
inside the Christmas tree?" I wrote.
"Lending
a graceful note to the season?" Sue wittily texted back.
"She
nearly gave me a heart attack."
"Did
you notice my pun?" Sue asked.
"Not
at first," I said. "I was too busy hyperventilating."
"I
get that," Sue wrote sympathetically. "But not so hyper that you
missed taking a picture!" (Boy, she knows me so well!)
"No,
well, first things first," I responded with a "grin"
emoticon...
After
it was all over, I realized that Grace was probably more frightened to be stuck
in the tree. She hasn't been near it since.
It
seems that Glory still wasn't sure of the definition of naughty, because she
decided she likes the taste of Gaspar, the magi who presented the infant Jesus
with the gift of frankincense. I might have kept on laughing at her
"cute little antics", but my nativity set is 35 years old.
Irreplaceable.
But,
like any parent (and pets are like children), I can't stay mad at her too
long. She gave me that sad and sorrowful look that said, "I'm sorry,
Mama, for doing this. And I'm especially sorry for making you angry and
sad." So after a good scolding, I had to take her in my arms and hug
her.
This
got me to thinking; it's a lot like our relationship with God, our heavenly
Father. We can't help ourselves, we're naughty little children and we have
to face the consequences. We eat the forbidden fruit. And yet... He
loves us. We express our remorse, confess our sins, and He forgives
us. No sin is too great that God will ever turn His back on us or reject
us.
"Seek
the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near... Return to the
Lord, and
He will have compassion... and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
(Isaiah 51:6-7)
Bless
the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless
the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your
iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who
crowns you with loving kindness and compassion. (Psalm 103:1-4, Praise for the
Lord's Mercies)
Amen!
Peddlers
Village at night
Full Moon, Nov 25, 2015
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