"Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals." (Psalm 36:6*).
We adopted our cat, Henrietta, after we took her from an animal shelter. Our previous cat had passed away, and we were excited about our new pet. While we were looking through the cats at the shelter, Henrietta reached her little paw through the cage as if to say, "Save me!" How could I not choose her? Yet, she doesn’t always behave: she ignores my commands, does whatever she wants whenever she wants, and refuses to come into my lap to be petted. Despite everything, I feed her and take care of her. I love her and welcome her into my arms whenever she decides to come to me.
It occurred to me that Henrietta behaves with me in the same way that I sometimes behave with God. There are times when I neglect His commandments, do what I want to do, and try to solve things on my own instead of letting Him help, love, and guide me. I am sure God loves me infinitely more than I love Henrietta. If I can take my disobedient cat back with great love, I know the Lord will always welcome me back and forgive me.
Link to the original article: https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2025-04-14
* Bible quotes are from Bible, a new translation from original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013