Life is filled with unexpected surprises, some for the worse and some for the
better. But no matter what the circumstances, our perspective will determine how
we face each one.
For almost a year now my family has been conniving behind my back, planning a
wild surprise for me. They dropped hints here and there, but these never made
sense to me. Like one time, my wife said: "It will be like meeting a long lost
friend." I tried to think of who they might have invited!
The day I was introduced to my surprise, I was completely dumbfounded. I had no
idea what to say. All of a sudden all of their hints and whispers behind my back
made sense when I was introduced to the prettiest kitten I have ever seen, one
that would soon become my bosom buddy.
I had a Siamese cat after I graduated from college, and she was my closest
companion. When she passed away from complications with mega colon, I never
replaced her. My kids had pet birds, and I wrote off the idea of ever having a
cat again. But now I found myself surrounded by three smiling faces and one
furry one. My wife and two boys had saved their money to purchase me a Ragdoll
kitten so that I would once again have a loving cat in my life.
Now you may wonder what a Ragdoll is. The breed originated in the 1960s in the
state of California where a woman named Ann Baker bred some free-roaming cats,
one having a Persian mix. To her astonishment the temperament of the kittens was
unique and endearing. She continued her experiments, carefully choosing the look
and temperament of her breeding candidates, until she had perfected the breed.
Anyone who has a Ragdoll will understand where the name originates from. My
kitten is so laid back that whenever I pick her up she completely collapses into
my arms, just like a doll made of rags. Her blue eyes are fascinating. She
notices everything that happens around her, and her medium-length fur is so soft
that she seems like a walking down pillow.
Unlike most cats, this breed starves for human affection. My kitten is no
different. She loves being with each of us. She found her favourite place, on my
desk, right in front of my computer screen. At night she makes sure she can be
near me, either on my bed or on the table beside it. She purrs almost
constantly, but never more than when she runs to greet me after a hard day at
work. It sure brightens your perspective of life, no matter how pleasant or
unpleasant the surprises the day may have brought, when someone is patiently
waiting for you to come home.
Although she has become the apple of my eye, my kitten doesn't even come close
to what my family means to me, nor does she hold a candle to the impact my
Heavenly Father has made on my life. He, too, has been waiting patiently for me
to come home so that He can greet me with His tender loving care. But much of my
life I have looked for places far away from what I now call my home. God is my
dwelling now, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I hunger for His embrace.
I starve for His guidance. So many times my attention has wandered to what
doesn't really matter in life. Yet each time He gently nudges me back in the
right direction.
"God's love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, his
verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a
mouse, slips through the cracks. How exquisite your love, O God! How eager we
are to run under your wings, To eat our fill at the banquet you spread as you
fill our tankards with Eden spring water. You're a fountain of cascading light,
and you open our eyes to light." (Ps 36:5-9 The Message)
I want to be where God is at work. I want to enjoy His presence near me. Oh how
good it feels to be in God's embrace! I feel at home with Him near me.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for your meteoric love towards me. Thank you for being so
patient with me and for loving me even when I ignore you. Thank you for helping
me find my peace in you. You are my everything!
Ragdoll cats may brighten your life, but not as much as the One who paid the
price for your freedom. If you want to experience Him, why not invite Him into
your life. He is waiting patiently for you and He loves you beyond expectations!
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.