You did not choose me, but I chose you… John 15:16 NIV
So we were going to choose a cat. Against all the odds we were going to have our own cat. In spite of the excitement, I was nervous. This was a big step and would change our lives. What if it was a mistake? What if allergies flared up? What if…what if…?
My son and I prayed while we waited for everyone to get ready to go. “Lord, we think this is the right thing to do. We believe that You have directed us to this decision. Now please help us find the right cat, the cat this is Your choice for us to have. Thank You. Amen.” With improved nerves we set off.
We arrived at the shelter to find that ours was the only car there. A sign of the fence indicated that the shelter would not be open that day. Had we been mistaken after all? Was this the wrong thing to do?
Barry checked the door. It opened, so he went in. He returned with the news that the shelter would be open in about an hour. We killed the time in a nearby store.
When the shelter opened, the first thing was to fill out papers and answer questions. I hoped we were giving the right answers. How awful it would be if we were found unacceptable and politely refused a cat. But they gave us the benefit of the doubt and we were admitted to the Cattery.
So many cats! How would we ever find ours? We began the search. Around and around the room we went. All the cats were appealing. Some even reached out to snag us. Each would make a fine pet. How on earth could we choose?
The center of the room was devoted to kittens. We watched them tumble about in play. They were so cute! But the shelter would not let us have a kitten, since on one was at home for part of the day. I turned back to the adult cats. Not one stole my heart.
Then, fate stepped in. One of the volunteers put a tiny bundle of orange-and-white fur with giant ears into my arms: a kitten names Barnabas, which means “son of consolation.” (Pretty appropriate, I think.) He had the loudest purr I had ever heard. And he was so trusting; he snuggled down in my arms and immediately fell asleep. I was lost. It was love at first sight.
But we did not want a kitten, my family reminded me. Kittens were a lot of trouble (they didn’t know the half of it, as it turned out).
“It’s true,” I agreed, as I cuddled Barnabas. “We don’t want a kitten. We can’t have a kitten. We are definitely looking for a cat.”
So I looked at the cats. I looked back at the kitten in my arms. It was too late. This was my cat. The volunteer, sensing my difficulty, offered a solution. Where the shelter would release one cat where there was no one home part of the day, they might allow two kittens. An “only” would be lonely, but two would be company for each other.
We looked at each other. The move from no cats to two cats was a giant leap. We looked at the adult cats again. But none of them was OURS. So. We shrugged. “Two kittens. Let’s choose.”
I had picked Barnabas and had no opinion on any other. So Barry chose Leda, a tiny brown tabby with enormous eyes. She alone of her cage-mates was awake and eager to play. We crowded into a small enclosure to see if the cats would get along; no problem: they ignored each other.
As with any adoption, there was a lot more paperwork. So the kittens went back into their cages until it was time to go. Both immediately came to the front of the cage, fixed wide eyes on us and cried with all their hearts.
“We will be back. You are coming with us,” we assured them. But I doubt if they believed it: they had seen so many people come and go. How could they know that this time it was true?
Waiting our turn back in the office, I began to have more second thoughts. Was this the stupidest thing I had ever done? Would we have problems? Did I really want the extra word of animals? Would this put an end forever to my nice clean house? And what if allergies surfaced?
But it was now a matter of pride. I didn’t dare back down. We’d gone to so much trouble already and spent nearly the whole day. And there was the matter of the forgotten birthday. And – well, they were cute. I prayed silently: “Oh Lord, is this a mistake? Will I be sorry? Are we doing the right thing? Are we REALLY doing the right thing?” But I knew in my heart that we were going to do it. I just hoped that it would be okay.
Finally the adoption was complete and the kittens were ours. We were all very excited and very happy. We were now among the “cat-owned.” The great adventure had begun.
Lord, Scripture says You’d chosen me before You even formed the sea.
It says You knew who I would be, and that You set Your love on me.
I am adopted, this is true: forever I belong to You.
And You will take me home to be beside You for eternity.
You paid for me with blood divine. Now I am Yours and You are mine.
And happier I couldn’t be: without a doubt, You’ve chosen ME!