Wednesday, November 28, 2012

It Hurts, but Maybe It's Good For You

A couple of weeks ago, I took the kitten to be checked by the vet.  Twist (after Oliver Twist, the orphan) was being so good during his exam.  He purred loudly and was extremely cooperative.
One thing that needed to be done was having his blood drawn to make sure he didn't have feline leukemia (he doesn't), a common ailment among cats.  Suddenly, Twist was not so happy anymore.

"What a set of lungs!" The vet said.  Yes, Twist let everyone know he did not like being forced down to take his blood.  This week he gets his vaccinations.  I bet that's going to be a lot of fun for all of us.

By the way - he's still available for adoption!!!!  Tell everyone!

It is impossible for me to explain to Twist why vacccinations are good for him.  From his point of view, he is restrained, is injected with some stingy stuff, then let go.  Why should he put up with that?  It's for his protection - for the rest of his life!

I don't know about you, but I'm the same way.  I do not like to feel trapped in my circumstances.  I like to do things my way, and generally avoid anything that's going to cause too much discomfort.  If I change my perspective and regard every circumstance - good and bad - that I experience as something from God's hand, for my own spiritual growth, then maybe I could sit still.

It's not easy.  Maybe that difficult thing is for my benefit.  Maybe I should stop complaining so loudly.

What about you?  How hard do you avoid discomfort, when it could be for your own good?  Perhaps it is even for your protection - for the rest of your life.

Monday, November 26, 2012

What Do You Miss Most when You're Sick?

In case you wondered where the postings have been, I've had a bad flu.  Today is the first day I've felt civilized in two weeks.  I am sorry and I know I've missed you!  I've never been as ill as I was feeling and it makes me think "I'll never be well again."  I miss feeling healthy and energetic.  I miss eating normal food.  When I was really sick, I couldn't focus on reading or having a conversation.  It was too difficult. 

Yet I'm about done with the isolation!  Soon I hope I can be out and having fun with friends soon.  Just like good buddies Bo and Luigi. 
There's something about laughter and fun that lift your spirits mentally and it seems to help physically.  Sometimes you just have to get out and "mix things up."

Bo and Luigi are very good friends.  They get to play together a lot and they are so entertaining when they are together.  To me, they look a little like Sumo wrestlers here:
"Bring it on!"

Even though I missed posting around Thanksgiving, it's still November.  We should still be thankful, no matter what day it is.  I'm thankful I feel better today, and hope that it continues.  I'm thankful I had so many offers of help I had to turn people away.  I'm thankful for the kinds thoughts, words and prayers I received.  I'm thankful for my friends.  I'm thankful for cute dogs that like to play together and have fun.

What are you thankful for?  When you're sick, what do you miss most?

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Still Needs a Home

Guess who has been down with the flu? (me)

Guess who still needs a home?  (kitten!)

Local animal welfare agencies are full so there' no place for the little guy.  Please ask around to see if someone would like to give him a wonderful home.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Unity in spite of Diversity

Someone dropped a kitten off Sunday morning.  Guess who does NOT like him?
Results of elections aside, the most important thing we've learned is we are a country that is deeply divided, and right down the middle.  Most of us hold convictions of which we are convinced and can not easily understand those who see it differently.

Yet we do.  What are we going to do about it?

We want to yell and scream.  That won't allow us to get along.  Some how we must find a language to speak to each other so we can better understand.  To me, there is no human answer.  We must pray and seek God's mercy to be patient and loving in the way that He does and we can not.

"There are two ways of meeting difficulties.  You alter the difficulties or you alter yourself to meet them."  Phyllis Bottome

Now, go play nice.

Monday, November 5, 2012

"Love Endures All Things"

Last night Captain snuggled next to me.  He was a bundle of purring, tucked under my armpit.  Awww.....
Then, he sat up and began hacking, as if a hairball may soon be on its way.

Ewww....

I didn't throw him across the room.  I gently moved him to the end of the bed and waited until he stopped (and thankfully, there was no hairball).  LOVE comes with hairballs.

Also last night, I watched an episode of Jersey Shore.  I'm an unapologetic reality show enthusiast.  Every now and then, when you least expect it, God shows up.  And not just the "OMG" God but the real God.

Last night God showed up in a reflection of his radical love for us, unconditional and sincere.

Snooki was sitting on her handsome fiancee's lap. She laughed about something and then got up quickly and yelled, "Oh no!  I peed!"  Her fiancee', while not looking happy, he still looked at her with love.  Being pregnant, Snooki can't have the best bladder control.  But her fiancee loves her and his baby she's carrying because LOVE endures inconvenient and even occassionally gross truths.

In real time, Snooki is changing diapers on their infant, who they love.  It may be smelly, but LOVE endures unpleasantness.

When my husband was dying, he could not shower without help.  It was my honor to help him, even though it was difficult to wash his body that was ravaged by ALS.  But LOVE involves heartbreak.

The love we experience in our lives is wonderful, yet it is only a glimpse of what eternal LOVE is - perfect and fulfilled.

"LOVE is patient.  LOVE is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud...it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs....(LOVE) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."  I Corinthians 13