I know a few die-hard dog lovers who would not dream of sharing their lives with felines, but I am not one of those. I adore cats and think I own a rather remarkable one, although I know for certain that this black and white “tuxedo” cat of ours would not receive even a glance from the cat breeders among us.
Her name is Bonnie Girl but she has a host of funny nicknames that she manages to tolerate without much fuss. And while Bonnie will moan and hiss if we feel moved to envelop her with a rush of love that includes kisses and hugs, she is truly loving when she decides a little devotion is in order. This is one of the things that drives people crazy about cats but endears me to her: She likes to set the stage, keep me guessing, and move about the house as if she were in charge.
She is smart. If she has run out of food in her bowl or wishes to sit out on our porch for a few minutes, she lets me know by moving smack dab into the middle of a project. Accompanied by a caressing tale and sweet purr, she knows I can easily be convinced to take care of her needs.
She is also persuasive and undaunted by my hurried lifestyle. If I have not sat down long enough to give her some individualized attention she boxes my heels as I move up and down the stairs in our home. The only way to stop her quick little punches is to stop on a stair and give her some attention.
It is perhaps her awareness that astounds me the most. When I think I have found a quiet minute or two and a private location to sit down and regroup, Bonnie Girl stealfily shows up to sit in the crook of my arm and extend soft little arms across my chest and up near my neck. There is devotion and affection in those yellow eyes of hers and a critter to stroke and care about.
She is my devoted friend in times of sorrow and worry- — which, by the way, we all have. In fact, as I move deeply into my 40s, parenting older children and watching as my own parents advance in their retirement years, it feels like challenge and concern and at moments utter drama move into my life like waves of a storm.
God knows our lives are often filled with circumstances that break our hearts and test our endurance, and it is for these reasons that He speaks to trouble throughout the Bible.
During the last few years I have written about such topics as divorce, death and the day-to-day challenges of being a Christian parent. While I hesitate to speak too often of such heavy topics, for I want this column to be a place of light and refuge, the truth is this: Life is difficult and at moments can feel like a series of problems. We can find quiet places, stroke our pets and exercise away the tension, but there must be an underlying truth that soothes our souls as nothing else will. God uses problems to draw us closer to Him. Not only that, but God does not steer problems away from us because problems cause us to draw nearer to Him.
What can be said as a way of encouraging you today as you deal with your own set of problems? First, problems are character-building opportunities. We can build mental and spiritual muscle when we learn how to be patient, think clearly, and choose to be hopeful when things feel out of control.
Second, we can be comforted to know that working our way through problems that include temptation, criticism, loneliness, and rejection will create in us deeper happiness and better relationships as we live our lives.
Rather than begging God, this week, to remove our troubles, let’s ask Him to show Himself so fully we can see more clearly his love, care, wisdom, power and faithfulness in the middle of our circumstances. Let’s hug our pets, read our Bibles, and ask God to mold us into the kind of people He wants us to be.
Let’s grasp the idea that the ways we deal with our troubles will affect eternity and our aim to be purpose-driven believers right here, right now.
Freelance wrtier Joan Bay Klope’s e-mail address is jbklope@hotmail.com
