The cats love winter weather: water trickles in the bathroom! Water that’s alive, fresh and very cold. They take turns lapping from tub or sink.
Except, of course, at night, when my door is closed. So, early in the morning they scratch and call at the door. When I open it, they take a hard right into the bathroom and I don’t hear from them for an hour or more.
Unless Hunter wants “mom.” He hops onto the bed and pauses, checking to see if I’m awake. (I am, but lie still, hoping he will take the hint.) He then drapes himself over my leg or curls up behind my knee and waits so quietly that I can – and do – go back to sleep.
But some mornings he comes up to my head, “combs” my hair, and yells in my ear. A sharp “No, Hunter! Let me sleep!” works often enough to buy time.
But not that day. Pester, pester, pester until I rolled over and snuggled with him.
Later that morning, I found him curling up for his morning nap. I went over and began to pet and talk to him.
“So, how do you like it,” I said, “when someone pesters you while you are trying to sleep?”
Hunter lifted his head, looked me straight in the eye . . . and hissed.
I retreated, laughing.
Cats seem to comprehend more that we give them credit for. The next morning there was no clawing at the door demanding entry. Hunter was patiently waiting for me to get up.
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It’s unsettling to think that my cat’s desire to please me is often greater than my desire to obey God. Paul got it right when he said,
Am I now trying to get people to think well of me? Or do I want God to think well of me? Am I trying to please people? If I were, I would not be serving Christ. Galatians 1:10b New International Reader’s Version
That’s not who I want to be. I think I need a “faith-lift.” Because,
No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 Good News Translation
After all, do I really want a cat to outdo me in obedience?
