LEARNING DAILY

 

Isaiah 41:13, For I, the Lord your God will hold your right hand, saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you”.

 

1 Peter 5:7, casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you.

 

A couple was given a cat by their granddaughter.  She had rescued it twice from harms way.   Over the years the couple became quite attached to the cat and they became his humans.  The cat, like most cats was very independent.  Being an inside and outside cat, he chose when he wanted to be in, choosing to be outside most of the time.  The couple desired the cat to give more of his attention to them by, perhaps, sitting on their lap.  He did like it when they came outside because he would come to rub up against them and would hang out with them; that was more convenient for him and more on his terms.  At night the cat would sleep between the couple’s pillows and often sleep curled up in the man’s armpit or snuggled up against his chest.  When the cat had rested enough, he would make it known until one of the two got up and let him out.  The cat would be told that there were all sorts of dangers waiting for him in the darkness; he ignored them and went his way.

 

One particular night was windy and the air was damp and cold.  The cat was determined to go out, not heeding the admonitions of the man.  On this particular night, the man chose not to return to bed.  Instead, he decided he would wait up and check on the cat to see if he would come back in.  He sat in his chair, going to the door often to see if the cat would run into the house, thankful that the door had been opened for him.  He even stepped out calling the cat by name, hoping he would hear and come in from the darkness.  This went on for two hours, until  finally, the man decided that the cat had made his decision; the man went back to his bed.

 

During the two hours of waiting to see if the cat would come back in, the man heard a small voice speak to him.  It was not an audible voice.  It was just thoughts that came to him. He was reminded that the Lord desired more attention from him - just like he desired more attention from the cat.  He was reminded that the Lord did not desire the couple to be independent from Him.  Their lives were to be surrendered to Him; they were to walk that narrow way that He had defined for them.  Just as the man thought he knew what was best for the cat, he was reminded that the Lord knew what was best for him and his wife.  But, like the cat, they too often wanted to go on their own.  Too often they made decisions without any prayer asking for the Lord’s will in the matter.  Too often they even wanted to go out into the dark, damp, cold night.  Even when the Lord called their name to get them back into the safety of His arms they either did not hear or just ignored His voice. 

 

God cares for the needs of each of His children!  This truth is found throughout God’s Word.  He wants His children to be in a relationship with Him; one where they tell Him about what makes them happy, their fears, their concerns, and their anxieties.  We “cast all your care upon Him for He cares” for each of us.  You and I must never ever forget that Jesus loved us enough to stretch out his arms on a cross and die for us.  He continues to love us; He never gives up on us!  Are you concerned or anxious today?  Listen to His voice calling out to you to bring your every concern to Him for He is able to manage it. 

 

As Paul Harvey used to say, “stay tuned to the rest of the story” about the couple and the cat