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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Litter Box Lesson

Photo credit:www.indoorcatshq.com
My husband has twelve cats.
And, amazingly, it works out pretty well.
He restricts their movements so they don't take over the house, he feeds them, he cleans up after them.
He even makes sure the house smells OK.

Until he gets pneumonia.
Then I have to do it.
And I don't like it.
Not one little bit.
Every day, I grab up the litter bucket, sift through every one of the five litter boxes, and walk the disgusting, heavy mess outside.
It makes me crabby.

These are his cats, not mine. They don't even like me much.
They are dirty, and arrogant, and tempermental.
Of all the nerve....

And then I remember what I asked God for....
I've been asking Him to teach me humility.

And I think of Jesus...
taking up the basin of water, tying the towel around Himself, and washing the disciples' feet...
their dirty, smelly feet.

And I remember what He said then--
Photo credit: s260.photobucket.com
You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.--John 13:7

OK, I get it.
Feet are little different from litter boxes, and I can't do this with your willing attitude, Jesus.
At least not yet. But thanks for trusting me with the opportunity.
Thank you, Jesus-- for the feet, for the cats, and for the lesson.

8 comments:

  1. Wow! I love when what we asked God for smacks us in the face like that. Sometimes a willing attitude is down right hard, especially when it's not what we had in mind. Thanks for the reminder!

    Christy @ A Heartening Life
    www.ahearteninglife.com

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    1. I love it too...I think. Still smarting, but...well, grateful. Thanks for stopping.

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  2. Oh, this lesson- so simple and so challenging. We've got one cat and I feel crabby about the litter box. You'll hear me grumble... "I said when we got this kitten I was NOT scooping poop...." and "this cat was YOUR DREAM, kids... "

    And then your words about Jesus... ugghh.. conviction. THank you.
    And thanks for the dear words of encouragement at the Overflow this week. Love to see the next season with my kids through your eyes.

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    1. Ugh...conviction. You're not kidding.

      And it's a lot easier to look at those busy days of raising kids from down the road than head on, and indeed, they do pass so quickly it seems from here, but not from there. Why in the world do we so more easily appreciate times we are not currently living? Still haven't figured that one out.

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  3. Smile. smile. smile. God uses the most basic every day ness to speak to us. I want to get better at listening!

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  4. Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things hop xo

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  5. Thank you so much for linking with Thursday Thoughts and thank you for this great post. I wouldn't like cleaning out litter boxes either! But you are right, we need to have a servant's heart like Jesus. Blessings to you and do come back and visit me again at NanaHood.com

    Teresa

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  6. Twelve cats! I think you should get some kind of medal. For me, cats are cute, especially on pictures. None in the house though. Thank you very much!

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