My Needy Cat

My needy cat kneads me. She possesses a peculiar habit of lying in my lap, kneading her paws into my belly, and sucking on my fleece robe, often while purring. I found a website that explained possibilities for my rescue cat’s actions.

• She’s claiming my robe and me as her territory.

• Her behavior shows affection and contentment.

• She’s seeking comfort as she did while a kitten nursing from her mother (found in cats that were taken from their mama too soon).

I’m happy she’s comfortable with me and wants to show me affection, but her quirky behavior can be annoying. She usually does this during my devotional time while I’m at my desk in the morning, and she expects me to coddle her as she snuggles. She relaxes so much that I must place my arm along her side, or she’ll slip off my lap. Have you ever tried to write in your journal while a cat rests on your writing arm?

After this lovable snuggling time, she leaves my lap and finds another place to lounge. When I wander past her, she may greet me with a meow. But if I reach out to pet her, she sometimes bites. Not a playful nip or love-bite but an all-out bite that causes me to say, “Ouch.” Fortunately, she doesn’t break my skin.

She bites my husband too, but he gets the love-bites. Not the “ouch” kind. But she doesn’t show him the love and affection she does me by kneading and snuggling.

How can such a lovable cat one moment turn on me several minutes later and morph into an attack cat? More research and more answers.

• Cats become overstimulated and need time alone.

• I may resemble an earlier owner who was abusive or neglectful.

• Someone took her from her mama before she learned proper play-biting techniques.

Before my research, I thought I might resemble a former owner. But now I believe someone took her from her mama too soon.

The answer? We continue to bond. I put up with her cuddling in my lap while I read my Bible and save the writing in my journal for later in the morning. I’ve learned not to touch her if she’s resting.

Is there someone in your life who seems to be your friend one moment and your foe the next? What sparks their behavior to change? Maybe they’re overwhelmed and need to be alone or need an extra dose of love and kindness.

What helps you when you feel you’ve had enough? Walk outdoors? Read a book (perhaps God’s Word)? Listen to music? Or do you seek a kind word, a warm hug, or the reassuring voice of a close friend?

As I thought about my cat and how her affection toward me can change in an instant, I remembered times when I’ve snapped at someone I love. I don’t bite, but my tone hasn’t always been calm or sweet. There are moments I reach that point when I need alone time or an understanding hug. Although I strive to show kindness and love, I guess I’m a lot like my needy cat.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech
but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18, NIV 

---

Cat research: https://www.seniorcatwellness.com/

Acknowledge His Greatness

Have you praised the Lord today and acknowledged His greatness? He blesses us beyond our comprehension, and for that, He deserves our praise.

I’ve prayed for months for a miracle of reconciliation between two members of my family. The repair of their relationship didn’t look promising in the natural, but when God intervenes, all things are possible. The first step to harmony between two people I love took place this past week. I serve an awesome God!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every
spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3, NIV

Perhaps you can recall a time when God answered your prayer for a special need—a new job, a financial miracle, or the mending of a broken relationship. He’s still in the miracle working business.

Ephesians Chapter 1 tells us God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. Why? Because we are followers of Christ. He chose us to be holy and without blame as we walk in His love. We belong to Him, and He has given us grace and accepted us as His children. His love and kindness for us are so great, that He bought our freedom with the blood of Christ and forgave our sins.

He’s united us with Him, and He’s working everything according to His plan. We are His own, and we know this by the gift of His Holy Spirit, who is God’s promise to us that we have eternal life. The Holy Spirit in us brings spiritual blessings through God’s gift of grace. His purpose for us is to bring Him praise and glory.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14, NIV

We are to praise and worship Him, not only for what He has done for us, but for who He is and for His excellence. One way to bring Him glory is to acknowledge His greatness as we surrender ourselves in obedience. He is holy, faithful, merciful, and offers us His love and grace. He gives to all who seek Him. Even in the bleakest of circumstances, He knows, and He cares. Tell Him what you need. The answer to your prayers may take months as mine did, but He’s listening and working.

Thank you, Father, for Your spiritual blessings. I’m grateful You hear my cries for help as I pray for matters that concern myself and others. Your love knows no boundaries. I praise You and acknowledge Your greatness, power, and authority as I surrender myself in obedience to Your Word. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

---

Photo by Guillaume de Germain - Unsplash

He Holds Our Hand

Our hands are often used to show kindness, love, and to offer help to others. Holding someone’s hand can signify a special moment of showing tenderness and concern. God does that with us—He holds our hand.

In my novel, Only A Glimpse, holding hands is a regular occurrence. My main female character, Keedryn, struggles with her new boss, Blake. He’s arrogant, heartless, and takes his frustrations out on her. She reminisces about her husband, Sam, who passed away a few years earlier. “He left me too soon. I need him to hold me and reassure me I’m strong enough to deal with my boss.” She also recalls how much she misses those special moments she and her husband shared. “I miss our strolls, how he held my hand in church, and the stability and wisdom he brought into our marriage.”

Special moments of handholding also take place between Keedryn and her friends as they join hands to pray in agreement for God’s will to be done in Blake and Keedryn’s relationship. “She took my hand. ‘Let’s pray and ask God what His plans are. Are you willing to do that?’ ‘Yes,’ I whispered.”

Blake, the main male character in my story, softens toward Keedryn and tries to win her heart. They travel by plane to an out-of-state conference and encounter turbulence. Keedryn does something unexpected. “I reached out for his hand and held tight, which was something normal for me when Sam and I traveled. But Blake? I tried to move my hand, but he put his other hand over the top of mine, grinned, and said, ‘We’ll be fine.’ I managed to yank my hand away on the second try. ‘Sorry.’ His eyes twinkled. ‘I didn’t mind.’”

Blake offers her his hand a few times when they’re walking together, but Keedryn refuses because she doesn’t want a relationship, especially with her boss. She lets her guard down on one occasion and accepts his hand, but soon after, something happens between them. She then struggles to forgive him for the heartache he’s caused. While in the car together, he requests grace. ‘“I understand God gives us second chances, I thought maybe you’d give me one too.’ He offered me his hand again. I hesitated for a moment, then accepted it . . .I turned my gaze onto the road in front of me. I should take my hand back. But did I want to?”

In another scene, Blake touches Keedryn’s hand in a moment of tenderness and compassion and to speak to her with sincerity. ‘“Hurting you was the furthest thing from my mind. Can you forgive me?’ I placed my free hand on top of his and sighed. ‘Yes.’”

Above I’ve shared how holding someone’s hand may offer reassurance, connect people in prayer, bring comfort and security, grow relationships, and express tenderness, compassion, and sincerity.

Although I’m sharing scenes from my book, I hope you’ll notice the correlation here with God’s love for us. He holds our hand too.

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Psalm 37:23-24, NLT

If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

Psalm 139:9-10, NLT

And when we feel we need more than our hand held—

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms.

Psalm 68:19, NLT

Father, thank you for holding my hand. You offer me strength, security, comfort, and so much more. I’m grateful for Your guidance, along with Your tenderness and compassion toward me. May I always remember that You go before me and follow me, and you are always with me. In Jesus’s name, amen.

---

Photo by Kimi Albertson - Unsplash

Extend Grace

What are tangible ways to extend God’s grace to others? When I consider the Lord’s undeserved kindness toward me, I’m in awe. I cannot do anything less than share that same grace to my family, friends, and coworkers. 

When my youngest child leaves dirty dishes on the counter instead of placing them in the dishwasher, I forgive. When she squished my fresh, out-of-the-oven homemade bread as she cut a slice, I gave instructions on how to cut warm bread.

A friend, Daphne, and I get together often. A third person shared something from Daphne’s past I didn’t know. When Daphne apologized to me for her past behavior, I said, “No reason to apologize. That’s not the Daphne I know.” I offered love and kindness.

At times, I mess up and forget to extend grace. I get upset with my youngest when she leaves her personal belongings all over the sofa in the family room. And on one occasion with a coworker, instead of sharing grace, I threw up my hands and said, “Whatever. But I’m not happy about this.” (Later, I apologized. To make me happy wasn’t a part of my job description.)

Then there are times in the heat of a battle, I remember to pray and ask God for help to offer grace. When I received a promotion, Marcy accused me of climbing over everyone else to get to the top. She’d worked for the company longer, and anger consumed her. I took a position that placed me above her, and she no longer wanted to interact with me. While she criticized me, I prayed. “Lord. Help me extend grace. Keep me calm and help me respond with kindness.”

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare
(Proverbs 15:1, NLT).

I understood her frustration and didn’t argue. Instead, I sat and listened while she shared her feelings. Then I told her I was sorry and hoped to repair what had broken between us. It took two years, but when she apologized for her reaction that day, she admitted I’d done a good job in my position.

Did Marcy deserve my kindness? Bitterness filled her words. I hadn’t promoted myself. I could have argued several facts with her. But whatever I said during her heated condition would have proven nothing to her. Better for me to extend grace even though at that moment she didn’t deserve it.

Just as I don’t deserve God’s grace. But I’m so thankful He extends His love, kindness, and forgiveness to me.

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others
the Good News about the wonderful grace of God
(Acts 20:24, NLT).

This Scripture describes telling others who Christ is and sharing the truth of His grace. When we walk in love, kindness, and forgiveness, we show God’s grace. People may need to see it lived out in us before they’ll hear it from our lips.

How do you extend God’s grace?

---

Photo by Leah S. Terrell