Today’s scripture: Luke 15:1-10 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Cheryl Stonestreet):
This past spring, my mom was feeding a mother cat and a litter of feral kittens. She wanted to capture the mother cat and take her in to be spayed, but instead caught one of the kittens. She thought it would be okay to let it loose in the extra bathroom down in the basement until the next morning, when she would then get it into a carrier and take it to the vet’s office. Feral as it was, when she released it from the live trap that she caught it in, it literally ran up the wall and into a hole in the ceiling. And there it stayed between the basement and ground floor of my parents’ home.
My parents spent many sleepless nights listening to the kitten cry in the floor under their bed. They cut numerous holes in the basement ceiling and propped up ladders and shelving units hoping it would crawl down. Sometimes, if you were lucky, you could see the little white point of his nose as he looked down at you, and then you would hear him dash off again.
It took a lot of time and cat-whispering to get the kitten down. But eventually the little guy gave in. He climbed down out of the hole and onto a shelf where he would eat and drink and vanish yet again. After more time and more coaxing, he finally let my mom pet him. Eventually still he came down and sat on my mother’s lap and purred contently. Mom named him Buddy, as in her basement buddy. Soon Buddy came upstairs. And shortly thereafter he was comfortable in all parts of their house.
On an unseasonably warm winter’s day, Mom decided to air out the house. The storm door wasn’t quite latched and blew open in a gust of wind. Buddy ran out the door. My mother was heartbroken, for in the coming day or so was predicted a large snow storm; furthermore, my parents had plans to leave on a trip. Hopefully, Buddy would come back before they had to go. But he did not.
My parents went on their trip, and the storm came with lots of snow. My brother and nephew, who were feeding her other cats and checking on the house, looked for Buddy but never saw him. Buddy had only known living inside the house. With heavy hearts we all hoped and prayed that Buddy had found safe haven somewhere.
Then one day about a month later I got an email from my mother. The subject line said, “Praise!” Buddy showed up on her porch! He was okay! It took a few days, but she was eventually able to pet and hold him again. And in a couple of more days, Buddy decided to come back inside. Praise, indeed!
Thought for the day: Sometimes, I feel a bit feral and run for the breezes outside. Imagine how God must feel when we “show up” again at God’s door. Praise, indeed, for those who were lost, and now are found. Never doubt the praise it will bring when you come home to God.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.