"Training My Cat"

“Training My Cat”

This morning I was looking at my cat Lily as she settled in for a nap across the room from where I was sitting. I reflected on how much she’s changed since I adopted her at age three. Since then she has learned to respond to different voices I use and even hand gestures, knowing what I want. This does not mean that she is still not an independent feline as God created her, but she has changed drastically from a cat who was so afraid of me into one who trusts me totally. The other day she was across the room and all I did was crook my finger in the “Come here” gesture and she came right over to get some love because she knows what that means. I didn’t have to speak at all. She comes running when I use a certain voice for her treats. She understands praise. She understands love. She knows I only want what is best for her.

Then I thought: Has God trained me? Have I learned to “hear” and understand the subtle words that He puts in my spirit and immediately respond? Have I changed from a person who was fearful and wanted her own way to a person who totally trusts her Maker? I’m still independent in a way because of the free will that God has blessed each of us with, but do I now choose to put that aside to do what He wants me to do? Have my responses to situations been freely released into His desires for me? Do I know for sure that He only wants the best for me?

The difference is, Lily has learned to respond in certain ways because of receiving rewards, My response to my Savior is my choice but totally based on the fact that He came to this Earth as all God and all man, died, and rose again…for me. I respond to that out of love, not reward. I respond to that based on total trust in Him. I respond to that out of absolute gratitude for all He is, all He has done, and all He is continuing to do in my life, knowing without a doubt that He wants the best for me.

For Lily, it is a learned behavior. For me it is an honor and privilege to allow myself to be melded into the character of Christ.

“Take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces His character in you,” (Ephesians 4:24, The Message).

Grace and Blessings!

Karen McMillan