Guest post: Jim Taylor of Mozambique, Africa
The little starving kitty had been coming around our kitchen here in Mozambique, begging a meal. It was skinny, malnurished and neglected. Afraid of people, you could not get within 3 or 4 feet of it before it would bolt and run .. even if you had a piece of chicken or fish.
Its fear was greater than its hunger.
Twyla began to put food out for it with it watching her. After Twyla backed far enough away from the food the cat would come and eat. Over time Twyla got closer and closer to the little cat as it ate until eventually she was right beside it. This took a number of days and much patience, but slowly the cat began to trust that Twyla was not going to hurt it.
Then one evening as she fed the cat some chicken scraps Twyla touched it. The cat immediately bolted … but then came back, drawn by the chicken. Slowly and gently Twyla wooed it until the cat allowed her to scratch its back and rub it.
It was interesting watching the cat respond. Having never had kind treatment, it knew it liked the petting and scratching, but it was still fearful. Twyla had to move slowly and carefully, always letting the cat know that she meant it no harm.
While still skittish, the cat now likes the petting and rubbing almost as much as the food!
Because .. cats are designed to enjoy that kind of affection!
God made cats to respond to petting, rubbing, scratching .. but this little cat’s image was broken. It did not know it was made to enjoy that until it had experienced it in a safe environment.
How like us and our heavenly Papa. He means us no harm. He has told us over and over that He has plans to bless us, to prosper us, plans for good and not for evil. And how like the kitty .. we run from His movements of love and affection.
Because our image in broken!
Like the cat we do not realize we were created to enjoy the very things He wants to do with us. We are fearful and afraid, even of His gentle loving touch. But when once we begin to allow Him to touch us we suddenly discover .. THIS IS GOOD!
How gentle and patient He is, slowly slowly wooing us … showing us that this is not a bad thing, it is something you were designed for.
There is a little black kitty that watches from afar. It cannot give in even to hunger and allow us near it. It is so broken it will most likely die before long since there is not much for it to eat and it daily grows weaker. It cannot understand that what the other cat is experiencing is good.
How much like that little black cat are some of us!
We are hungry for God, but we just cannot understand those who are doing things so differently from the way we have always done it. We watch from afar but are too afraid to come in and try it.
And like the little black cat, we will stay away, even though we are starving for God! How sad that is.
But for those who do press past their fears, do not fear little one. It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Relax, let Him touch you. It’s a good thing! You will find you enjoy His presence more than anything you have ever experienced.
A few days ago, my friend and his wife underwent surgery. His kidneys has shut down a couple years back and his bride volunteered to give him a kidney. The love demonstrated by both of them is world changing love. God is very real in their lives and this “seals the deal” so to speak.
