THREE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS I LEARNED FROM MY CAT: Freelance Friday

Last Friday I shared with you three spiritual truths I learned from my puppy dog, Mollie. If you missed that post, you can go here.

Today, I’d like you to meet Spot, the Wonder Cat.

Spot decided to adopt us 19 years ago when he hopped our fence and marched up to our then dog, Tasha and settled in. Spot was already a grown-up kitty by then, which makes him at least 20 years old. In cat years, that means he’s, let’s see: 13 + 8, carry the 2, minus 4, multiplied by …well, let’s just say he’s “really old.”

If you’re a dog person, maybe you don’t care much about cats. But Spot isn’t a regular cat. This is the guy who our daughter dressed up in doll clothes and stuck in her stroller. He then sat purring happily as she drove the stroller down the stairs, one bump at a time.

This is the cat who battled the electric kitty litter box, lying in wait, pouncing as it sat unexpectedly ready to do its clean-up thing, until we finally vanquished the entire electronic experiment as a bad idea.

This is the cat who chases Mollie around the backyard and wins. Even at his ripe old age.

This is the cat who curls up in dish pans so we can call him, “the cat in the bucket.”

And sits on our towels to make sure they don’t wrinkle.

and



Spot is such a part of the family that even Mollie the puppy—or maybe especially Mollie the puppy—will be heartbroken when he’s gone.

So what sort of spiritual truths could I possibly have learned from Spot, the Wonder Cat? Here are three.

1. Spot’s cat eyes have irises that focus upward and downward. He is not distracted by what’s going on to either side of him.

I too should focus toward heaven. I should keep my eyes on God. And I should also watch my steps to make sure I’m following Jesus.

Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said…

2. Spot knows how to be still and listen. Unlike puppies who are always ready to play; my cat knows how to just sit. Puppy dog still has to master that skill. Kitty’s ears never stop turning in all directions. He’s listening and paying attention to what’s going on, but his body remains still and he waits.

Like Spot, I need to tune my ears to God. And then wait. I need to be still so I can hear when God speaks.

1 Samuel 3:10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”  Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

3. Spot knows how to rest. I’m not talking about sleep. Dogs have that perfected. Rather, I’m talking about rest. Spot can sit on my lap so long that I can barely move my legs when I get up. And all the while he’s resting, he’s also purring. 

I need to remember that one of God’s commands is to take one day in seven as a Sabbath. So should I. And while I’m at it, I should be singing praises to God in gratitude.

Matthew 11:28 Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the examples of spiritual truths we find in the world around us. Help us see more of your truth in unexpected places. Thank you for the critters you created who bring us such joy. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?  Do you have a spiritual kitty? What lessons have you learned from him?

THREE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS I’VE LEARNED FROM MY DOG

My husband is fond of saying that dogs make the greatest pets because they’re so godly. You know the joke, “d-o-g” spelled backwards is “god.”

Okay, so being a cat person, I was never convinced. I’ve begun, however, to change my thinking about dogs because of our puppy, Mollie.

Mollie, isn’t a pedigree. She has no papers other than the ones she sneaks out of the bathroom wastebasket. She has no show ribbons other than the ones she snags from the pile of present wrappings at Christmas time.

When folks ask what kind of a dog Mollie is, the best answer we can give is that she’s “black.”

Mollie may not be a hi-brow doggie, but it turns out, she is spiritual. Or at least she’s taught me several important spiritual truths. Here are three spiritual truths I've learned from Mollie.

1. Mollie trusts that I will take care of her every need. 

Mollie is enthusiastic when anyone is in the kitchen. Like the rest of us, she enjoys a good nosh and even a special dessert from time to time. But she never worries about where the next meal is coming from. There’s always something to chew until her food bowl gets filled. There’s always the toilet until her water bowl is replenished. She doesn’t dig a hole and bury her dog biscuits. She enjoys them when we give them to her and knows that she’ll have everything she needs for a healthy life.

Matthew 6:25-34 says: Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

Mollie shows by her actions that she understands this scripture and applies it to her life. She reminds me that I should, too.


2. Mollie knows that even when I discipline her, I still love her. And even when I discipline her she still loves me.

Hebrews 12:16 says: …for those whom the Lord loves, He disciplines.

Mollie doesn’t like to be disciplined, but she knows when she has done something wrong. When she’s caught, her head hangs, her tail slips between her legs and she practically verbalizes her thoughts, “my bad!”

As a result, Mollie may have to go sit on her special carpet with a time out. Or she may have to go outside while we clean up a mess. Or she may get a stern “Mollie, no!”  But she knows that we still love her. She is confident in our love because we have shown it to her consistently over the years. And even though she knows we’re not happy with her at that point, she still loves us, as evidenced by the dancing and prancing and licking and wagging that goes on when the discipline is over.

Mollie reminds me that God loves me, too, even when He’s disciplining me. I may have done something wrong, but His love shown to me over my lifetime has proven to me that He loves me with a constant, continuous and never changing love. I am confident in His love. And my love for Him remains, too.


3. Mollie sleeps the sleep of the blessed.

Philippians 4:7 says: And the peace that passes understanding shall keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Ever watch a dog sleep? Makes a person a bit jealous. Sure, Mollie might twitch and twitter from time to time, but boy can she sleep! Any place, any time, in any position. On the floor, on the rug, on the couch, in a chair, on the grass, in her kennel, on our bed (sheesh!), under our feet, in our way…

And then she snores.

The point is that she has no worries. No burdens keep her awake. As soon as she takes that one deep breath, she closes her eyes and she’s out. It’s as if by letting out that breath, she’s giving all her daily efforts over to God. And she sleeps with a peace that surely passes my understanding.

I can learn to give my worries over to God, too, and let His peace fill me.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for making us teachable and for giving us examples in our lives of your spiritual truths. Help us to see more of your truth in scripture and around us. Thank you for loving us through it all. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you have a spiritual dog? Don’t worry…I’ll get to cats next. What spiritual lessons have you learned from your puppy?