A Lesson from my Cat

As I fed my cat this morning, I looked at him and thought to myself “Why do we get pets?”

Sure. They make us happy, they do funny things, and they’re nice to snuggle. However, think a little bit deeper. We are setting ourselves up for heart break.

Humans have a life expectancy much longer than nearly all pets and we still get them. We get pets, knowing that we are setting ourselves up for heart break.

So why do it?

As I thought about this question, I pondered answers such as, perhaps humans have the affinity to love and to take care of others. Its a nice thought but absolutely wrong. The word of God says that the human race has a heart that “is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Although this appears to be an intention, many pet owners outside of the Body of Christ can not exhibit true love and have a deceitful heart. So surely there is more.

Or perhaps, it is because we do not think of the heart break that is to come because we are living in the moment which is far more likely a human response. Or maybe, we just ignore it and count the time that we had with them as a victory.

Or still yet, perhaps, pets point to something far greater. Perhaps they are a furry tool of God, that shows humanity how we are to treat other people- With love, grace, and respect. Jesus explained to His Jewish congregation the two greatest commandments:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:36-40)

The Apostle Paul often reiterated to the Roman Church many times over the importance of love and practically every New Testament author did the same. Love does not come natural for a wicked, depraved people however by God’s word, the Holy Spirit, and yes even your loving cat, perhaps we can learn to love as Christ loved the church.

Have a paw-fecr day!