Hunter loves canned cat food. At 5 PM (he hears the specific birdsong from the Audubon clocks), he goes to the Feeding Place to wait in expectation.
Hunter is messy, though, and doesn’t always eat “over his plate.” Even with a placemat he flicks food onto the floor. I didn’t worry too much about it.
Then: Ants! I hate ants! We had moved the dry food to the table because wherever it was on the floor, ants found it. I immediately employed my “anti-ant offensive.” Problem solved, right?
Then I found ants at the Feeding Place. Aghhhh! Stomp! Stomp! Kill! Kill!
Okay. The canned food goes on the dining table, too. No ants there!
But Hunter disagreed. He’d get on the table, inspect the bowl, then hop down to sit in the old spot. And look at me.
“No, Hunter,” I’d say. “It’s up here now.”
He looked at me.
“Hunter, there are ants down there.”
He just looked. I felt like such a bad mom. But really …
“No,” I’d say and walk away, because, I mean, … ants! Eventually he’d eat. But the next day we’d “Groundhog Day” the whole scenario all over again.
Cats hate change. especially when it’s not their idea. And I don’t speak enough “Felinese” to explain my reasons. Looks like there is going to be conflict until change becomes the norm.
Humans hate change, too, especially when it’s not their idea. We change incrementally daily, of course, but drastic, imposed changes unsettle us. Change means “different, scary.” It requires a whole new playbook written in real time. It demands we live with unknowns.
But God doesn’t change. The Bible is quite definite about this:
God is no mere human! He doesn’t tell lies or change his mind.
God always keeps his promises.
Numbers 23:18-20 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Nor does Jesus:
Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Eventually Hunter will eat on the table. Eventually we will get used to the changes this virus has forced on us. But until then, remember that our foundation rests on the unfailing God, our Refuge and Strength, Who always keeps His promises. That alone will never change. Ever.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Reinhold Niebuhr