Katherine Anne Douglas - Cat Lovers Devotional: What We Learn about Life from Our Favorite Felines

F rom friends living in such faraway places as Burkina Faso, Africa, to my nieces two miles up the road, Ive garnered the stories you will read in this collection. Once again my gracious mother was my tireless first editor. Mark, my husband, coach, and encourager, would give me hours of solitude, telling people the truth: Shes at work. May I take a message? My personal delight in this book has been the hours upon hours Ive spent in the Word of God. Lessons taught us by cats parallel biblical truth. It has been marvelously gratifying to learn in a new light the admonition of Psalm 150:6: Let everything that has breath praise the L ORD .

Thanks to all of you who have given me such edifying, poignant, instructional, and humorous stories to include in this book.

B ut ask the animals, and they will teach you (Job 12:7).

From the oldest book of the Bible we are instructed to learn from the animals. Cats are known for their speed, strength, and stealth. We may be intrigued by a tiny, fearless kitten who climbs to dizzying heights, or we may stare openmouthed before the television at the powerful muscles of a tiger as he races across open country. From the extremes of a mewing, eyes-yet-unopened kitten to the roaring king of the jungle, cats are a unique kind of animal.

As people, we love em or hate em with scarcely anyone falling somewhere in the middle.

Cat lovers enjoy domestic cats for a variety of reasons. They are entertaining. They are independent. They have beautiful eyes and silky soft fur. They are fastidiously clean but dont mind getting dirty if theyre intent on a task. They are smart, curious, resourceful, and amazingly resilient. Cats are persistent huntersand shameless loungers.

In this collection of true stories, youll see a number of lessons taught by our feline friends. Cats demonstrate adaptability. They model uncommon perseverance and steadfastness. They show us character qualities that God wants us to put offanger, brawling, arrogance (Ephesians 4:2531; Romans 11:20). Conversely, our cats may teach us lessons in self-control, service, or relaxation techniques. We need only be teachable to garner some invaluable lessons from these delightfully unpredictable creatures.

One of the titles of the Lord Jesus Christ is the triumphant Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). We can emulate Him, this Lion of Judah. Were told that the righteous are as bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1) and that to be brave is to have the heart of a lion (2 Samuel 17:10). Cats arent just stealth, strength, and speed.

Delight in the truth that in [Gods] hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10). Today share a smile with another cat lover as you squeeze a cat nip between running errands and cleaning the litter box.

Kathy Douglas

David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan:

In life they were loved and admired.

2 S AMUEL 1:17, 23

F ully grown but long, lean, and limber, Pouncer is an unusual cat. He loves violin music. When Caleb, his owner, starts his violin lesson, Pouncer is there to climb up Calebs leg. He doesnt miss a note. He is enthralled by the notes that pour forth from Calebs instrument. Unlike most cats, Pouncer also enjoys being groomed. Hes even been known to do a complete 360 in midair. Grooming for Pouncer is an event to relish. Above all, Pouncer is a people cat. He loves everybody. He sidles up to family members and total strangers alike. If youre a person, Pouncer takes an immediate liking to you.

If youre a person. But other animals?

There is not an animal on the face of the earth that Pouncer has yet to meet and like. Other cats, dogs, birds, squirrels you name it, and Pouncer doesnt like it. Hes been known to tackle a hungry possum head-on. (He came out looking the loser, but the possum was gone in short order.) Once, Pouncer attacked a Rottweiler. (Sometimes Pouncer doesnt show a lot of good sense, but you cant fault him his zeal.) Pouncer is fiercely protective of his domain from the infringement of any other critters. Caleb is at a loss to explain this dual nature of his pet, who is love itself when it comes to people but becomes a vicious attack cat when a nonperson is in sight.

Davids lament for his dearest friend, Jonathan, is understandable. Throughout the book of 1 Samuel we learn of the deep bond these two men had with one another. Later in Davids lament he says: I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women (2 Samuel 1:26).

Davids love for Saul, however, is not so understandable. Throughout his life Saul was either loving David passionately or trying to pin him to the wall (literally) with his spear. David never knew from one day to the next if Saul was going to call him his son or his enemy. Saul was two different men in his dealings with David.

Some of us may have a friend or relative who is like Saul to us. Loving, supportive, and dependable one day, but cross, demanding, and mean spirited the next. Unhappy with themselves, they act out their misery often by hurting those they claim to love. In a word, they make our lives miserable.

The Lord God is never vacillating in His love and concern for us. He does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17). He is the God who declares: I have loved you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). We can rest in the unchanging and unchangeable love of God. No matter what comes our way today, He remains the One who so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (John 3:16).