pets

Things I Love 12: Tested And Approved by Lucy The Wonder Kitty

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / 1 Comment

island hammock

Lucy is in my lap, approving  whatever I type. Of course, she can’t read, but if she could, she would add her own comments (most of which would not be fit to print in a family-style blog such as this one). So I’ll take her silence as either approval or extreme sleepiness.

The list commences with #264 (I think).

264) Ice-cold water to quench my thirst on a humid summer day.

265) A long walk alone under a full moon at night (as opposed to all those moonlit walks during the day).

266) That I’m finally at a place where I’m comfortable alone or in a crowd.

267) Planned spontaneity.

268) That I’ve come to the place where if I never see a certain person ever again (and at the moment it appears very likely to be the case), that I will be glad for the friendship; I will miss her, but my life will go on.

269) Those quiet moments of peace where God speaks into my silence.

270) That with God, every day is a day to look forward to.

271) Reading collects out of The Book of Common Prayer and seeing my own prayers expressed better than I could ever put them.

272) That this blog site has spell-check so that I can appear smarter than I really am, i.e. that I can actually spell.

273) That I really don’t have to be friends with everyone or have everyone like me to be content.

274) That everything will be fine in the end, and if it’s not fine, it’s not the end.

275) Good lines from good movies (like the one I just referenced earlier).

276) Chocolate bars with bacon in them (it sounds gross, but tastes divine).

277) All of my quirks

278) That I have to show my driver’s license to prove that I really am the age I say I am.

279) That even though Jon Acuff might have more readers for one blog than I’ve had for all my 1,000+ blogs combined, that I have touched and impacted lives that wouldn’t have been touched and impacted had I chosen not to write a blog.

280) That I can use bad grammar, and bad punctuation, in my blogs, if I so, choose.

281) Those rare times when the Church is known for what it’s for rather than what it’s against.

282) That I can learn something from anybody, no matter what their philosophical, theological, political or social beliefs and regardless of whether or not they have the same worldview as mine.

283) That hamburger from The Pharmacy with bacon, ham, and a fried egg (10,000 calories of deliciousness!)

284) That the last spoken words from Jesus in the Bible aren’t a condemnation but an invitation.

285) When I talk into a box fan and make my voice sound like a robot.

286) That being grown-up doesn’t always mean having to be mature all the time.

287) That the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.

288) The way my cat Lucy hovers when she goes to the bathroom.

289) Not knowing all the answers (or even all of the questions).

290) A perfectly made and perfectly thrown paper airplane.

291) That I saw the actual Batmobile from the campy 60’s TV show tonight in downtown Franklin

292) That this list will continue– maybe tomorrow, maybe not. You’ll just have to tune in tomorrow to find out. Same bat time, same bat channel.

Things I Love 8: Greg’s Sanity Has Left the Building

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island hammock

FYI: these blogs will continue until I get to 1,000 things I love. It’s from the book, One Thousand Gifts, so I’m trying to list out– wait for it– 1,000 little things that I believe are God’s gifts to me and daily reminders that stir me to gratitude and thanksgiving as a lifestyle. Plus, I don’t have to worry about what I will be blogging on until at least July of 2014. Just kidding. Sort of.

Ok. Here goes the list, starting at #168. Drum roll, please.

168) Looking through old photo albums and reliving those old memories and remembering people who’ve been gone from my life for a while (and thinking they’re looking down from heaven and smiling at those photos, too).

169) My extremely loud Hawaiian shirt, which one random teenager called “sick.” I guess that’s a compliment. I’m not really sure.

170) Everything related to either Narnia and Wardrobes or Middle Earth and Hobbits.

171) Surprise birthday parties (hint, hint, subtle subliminal suggestion. . . cough).

172) Celebrating Easter and remembering that the Resurrection changed EVERYTHING. Including me.

173) That Jesus would have chosen the nails and the cross and the agony if only for me alone.

174) By Jesus loving me unconditionally and prodigally, he made me loveable.

175) Silent movies.

176) Box hockey (and the fact that I know what box hockey is).

177) All my high school reunions where I see old friends and get to catch up after 10 (or 20) years apart.

178) That I get to be a small part of Kairos, a worship gathering for young adults, every week and I see God at work there every single week.

179) Being content in my relationships and not obsessively wondering where they might or might not be headed,

180) Knowing that if the absolute worst case scenario should happen, I would still be loved by Jesus and God would still work even that out for my good and his glory.

181) How randomly my brain works these days.

182) The vast array of autumn colors from the leaves changing and falling.

183) Doing small random acts of kindness for people when they least expect it.

184) Any positive news stories (because they are sadly the exception and not the rule).

185) That I’m down to 715 more things to be thankful for.

186) Now it’s only 714.

187) That I’m not what everyone else thinks I am or even what I think of myself, but only what Jesus says I am– Chosen, Redeemed, Beloved, Child of God, Forgiven, Free, etc.

188) That Jesus won’t ever stop reminding me of my true identity and sending friends who will help me remember the song in my heart when I forget the words.

189) Lightning bugs at night in an open field.

190) Cheese grits made just right.

191) That I probably have at least 32 more of these blogs a-comin’ your way. But not in a row.

Sadness and Joy

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It seems there is so much sadness in the world lately. From the Boston Marathon bombings to the tornadoes that ripped through Shawnee and Moore, Oklahoma, it seems tragedy and loss are everywhere. It seems like on Facebook people are having to say goodbye to loved ones, where they be furry or people.

It can be overwhelming if you let it. The magnitude of pain around the world right now is massive. So many people are hurting, so many are suffering, so many seem like they have nothing to look forward to but more hurt and suffering.

But as callous and unfeeling as this may sound, you can still have joy. Joy is not a denial of what happened in Boston or Oklahoma. Joy doesn’t turn a blind eye toward those who have suffered and lost. Joy sees past the pain to the God who waits on the other side. The beautiful part is that God is on both sides of the pain and walking with you through it.

I love an illustration a pastor gave. Jesus isn’t limited by time and space, so he’s in your present with you. He’s also in your future, so that the promises he gave you are already as good as done. He’s in your past in that moment when you were wounded, ready to heal you so that your past wounds no longer bleed into your present. He’s in all three places at once.

I am convinced that sadness and joy can coexist. It’s only right to grieve what’s lost. But we don’t grieve as those who have no hope. We grieve with hope that one day God will set everything right and will restore a thousand-fold what we’ve lost or given up. We grieve as those who know that our troubles are only a blip on the radar screen compared to the glory that awaits and that what we suffer pales in comparison with the ultimate joy that awaits us.

So my heart aches for all those in pain tonight, but my heart rejoices that while there may be pain in the night, joy comes in the morning.

 

What Do I Know?

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / 1 Comment

What do I know? Apparently not much. I wake up every day and feel like I know less than I did before. It seems like I find out on a regular basis that there is so much more that I had no clue about. But I still know a few things. None of them are new or original, but I think I needed the reminders today.

1) Jesus still loves me like no other and thinks that I’m still to die for.

2) God’s not even remotely close to being done with me.

3) Sometimes blessings do come in disguises and answers to prayers rarely look like what you expected or come when you expect them to.

4) Cats are funny animals. Especially mine. She cracks me up all the time. She probably looks at me and thinks, “Dude, you seriously need a hobby or a girlfriend or something. Go away.”

5) Friends are the best. I never cease to be amazed at how Jesus speaks to me though my friends and how much of Him I see in them.

6) Family is good, too. Gotta give ’em props since they gave me life and all.

7) It’s still impossible to mess up so badly that you are beyond saving and too broken that God can’t fix you. God is still the best at making brokenness into something beautiful.

8) I don’t have to apologize for who God made me or for the way my life is unfolding. I don’t ever have to be ashamed of who I am or what I believe. I is good people.

9) Life is short. If you don’t stop every once in a while and look around, you could miss it. Ferris was right.

10) No matter how crappy the day was or how badly and how often you screwed up and put your foot in your mouth, tomorrow is a new day. It comes fresh with new mercies and the the faithfulness of God that just won’t quit. You never run out of second chances.

Late at Night

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I have a confession. I am a night owl and I don’t give a hoot about who knows. Yep, that was a terrible pun, but it is true.

I love when I am up late at night and the breezes blow through me like the whispers of God telling me good secrets. I love that feeling of quiet calm that comes just after the overwhelming tiredness where I’m too tired to sleep.

I love the way all those cares and pressures fade into the background noise with the cicadas and crickets. I love that I don’t have to be anywhere or do anything or be anybody other than me for those few moments.

To me, that’s heaven. Not so much the dark, but the feeling that comes with the warm night air and ambient sounds that aren’t lost in all the noise of the day. Not a fanfare, but a quiet air.

I guess that’s why I am a night owl. I’m sure those same sensations come in the pre-dawn hours of the morning, but I’d much rather stay up later than get up earlier any day. I’m too lazy for that.

If my cat could talk

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If my cat could talk . . . no wait, she talks all the time. . . if she could lower herself to speak human. . . .what would she say? I think I have an idea.

Hello, person. This is me, the most beautiful and most important feline in your life speaking. That being said, I have a few complaints.

Why do you insist upon calling me “my fat widdle kitty?” I am not “widdle”. I am above average for my species, which unfortunately is not a bengal tiger. Yes, I am a common housecat. But I plan on upgrading in my next life. So be nice to me.

Also, what’s with the food situation? I don’t pay you to keep my food bowl half empty. Oh wait, I don’t pay you at all. My bad. Still, how can I keep up my beautiful shape if I can’t have my daily 15 meals plus snacks? And someone (who is NOT me) keeps barfing near my food bowl. It’s really gross and you should pick it up sooner.

I could go on. Not being able to go outside or lounge on the table. Really? You’d think by the way I was treated that I was some sort of pet or something.

But I do like you. I like the way your clothes smell and I like to lie on them when you’re gone and pretend I’m taking a nap in your lap. I like the way you take care of me and I hope to stick around as long as I can. I’ll try really hard.

Now back to that food bowl, human!

Thanks for all the love

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / 2 Comments

For those who have lost pets they loved, it’s almost like losing family. The pain is real, the grief is real and the void that is left is all too real. I’ve often wondered if your deceased pet could have given you one last note, what would it be like? Maybe like this.

“Dear Person,

If  you’re reading this now, it means I’ve gone and you’re feeling sad. We went to the vet together and you had to come home alone. You’re already missing me.

Don’t be too sad. Remember me not as an old and sick dog, but as a young and playful dog. Think about all the happy memories we had, of riding in the car and you throwing sticks for me to chase.

You always made me happy. Whenever I saw you, I got all excited inside (and a few times I got so excited I even tinkled a bit on the carpet. I’m sorry about that). You took good care of me and made me feel safe.

Thanks for all the dog bones. The chewey kind were my favorite. The food was good, except for that diet stuff. I only pretended to like that to make you happy.

It’s not your fault. I got sick. I wasn’t having any fun anymore. I was in pain and I couldn’t walk very well. I wanted so hard to please you, but I was having a hard time. I understand that sometimes you have to let go and say goodbye.

This way, I’ll always have a special place in your heart. I’ll always be young and frisky and happy, never sad or old or sick. I know you loved me a lot. You can take all that love and find a new dog (or cat!) to give your love to. I won’t mind. I want you to be happy again.

You were the best owner a pet could ever have. I’ll be sure to tell God that when I see him. Maybe one day we’ll meet again. I think good things don’t ever really go away, but they are in heaven. So don’t be too sad. Think of how happy you made me and how much fun we had.

Then it will get all better. I promise.”