Daily Devotional for March 7, 2015

Job 12:7-10
If you want to learn,
    then go and ask
the wild animals and the birds,
   the flowers and the fish.
Any of them can tell you
    what the Lord has done.
Every living creature
    is in the hands of God.   

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Yesterday, Greg and I had to say “Goodbye” to our beloved tuxedo cat, Lucy.  We were blessed to be her “humans” for almost 16 years…having acquired her and her litter mate, Mabel – a calico – in April 1999.  Based on papers we received at the local animal shelter, we “counted backward” and declared their birthday to be March 1st. 

We knew that Lucy had been in declining health in recent months.  The once plump cat with the beautiful sleek and shiny coat of LONG black and white hair had become a virtual skeleton covered in a dull blanket of fur.  Yet she ate well, drank lots of water, purred and delighted in our affection – and she even chased a bird that made its way inside our house just two nights before she died.  (She actually caught the bird briefly…but without front claws, she could not contain it in her grip.)

Greg and I had prayed over and over that Lucy would just slip away from us – that we would awaken one morning and find her “sleeping with the angels”.  She and Mabel never really acclimated to humans – other than us – and all of these years, we have kept them completely indoors and fairly isolated.  They have not visited a veterinary clinic since they were spayed as kittens.  We did not want to have to put either of them through the trauma of a final visit to a vet for euthanasia.  So we prayed for God to spare them – and us – this situation.  And in Lucy’s case at least, He did just that.

We sat with our precious “baby” all through the night as she struggled through the stages of death.  We made her a pallet in the floor atop her heating pad (yes, our cats have “pet heating pads”) – and we lay beside her and stroked her as she steadily grew weaker.  We prayed over her…and we thanked God that - in the scheme of things - He allowed her such a peaceful passing.  And shortly after noon yesterday, her breaths slowed…and then the angels came for her.

If you think that God doesn’t care about animals and our beloved pets…read this scripture passage from Job again.  And if you think that a God who cares so much for animals of all sizes and species doesn’t care as much – or more – for you, then hear the words of Matthew 10:29-31…”Aren’t two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground. Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don’t be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.”

As gut-wrenching as these last few days have been for us, we have felt God’s presence.  We know that there is a place for animals in heaven…and that SOME DAY, we will see our precious tuxedo cat and our other beloved pets once again.  We know that we serve a God who is amazing, almighty, powerful…and compassionate…a God who loves two lowly sparrows – and dearly-loved kitty cats - and cares just as deeply about what happens to them as He does to us.  We know that God will sustain us - that He will fill the empty places in our hearts with His peace…and flood our thoughts with happy memories of the hundreds of days we enjoyed with this furry feline.

Don’t wait for a crisis to happen before you call on God…make Him a part of your life NOW, so that He is “at the ready” for whatever you encounter in life.  We are so glad that God was with us…that He IS with us…and we know that He has safely guided our Lucy over the “Rainbow Bridge” and into His loving care forever and ever.  He is sustaining us and filling us with hope and courage until we see her again.

The God who can comfort us in the loss of our pet can also meet any and all of your needs.  Our God can do ANYTHING!  I cannot imagine surviving without Him.  And I’m so glad that I don’t have to try.  God is with us…today…tomorrow…and always.  Do you feel His presence?  Have you asked Him to come near and be with you?  Isn’t it about time that you did? 
   
©2015 Debbie Robus