Bandit, Part 2
“The Cat With the ‘Tude”
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” John 7:24
Remember “Bandit”, our angry-looking, cranky, ornery, ungrateful feral cat with a “tude”? (Ladies: If you missed it, it was posted on July 16; you can go back and read it if you need a refresher.) Since then, he still glares at me and flattens his ears and hisses at me as I bring him his morning and evening meals. In other words, he looks like he still hates me.
Now, as the curtain rises on part 2, I am carrying a dish of cat food down the side of the house that could be a dog run, but actually has become a cat run. Suddenly, from seemingly out of nowhere comes a small, brown, very skinny, striped kitty. She is very young, maybe six months old.
“Well, hello there!” I greeted her. She said “mew, mew, mew” loudly as she guided me down the path as if I did not know where to deliver the food. She stopped constantly to check to see if I was still behind her. I nearly rear-ended her several times due to her sudden stops to check on me. She obviously did not know that I have been making this delivery for many, many months, rain or shine. She constantly mewed in case I was blind and needed to follow her voice. So I named her “Mew Mew”, and welcomed her to the homestead. I wondered where she had come from.
Suddenly I spotted Bandit in his usual attack-you-first stance with that mean glare of his. Since he was “letting her live,” I assumed perhaps she was his daughter. “Well, Bandit, I see you have brought me another mouth to feed.” I gave the food to her, and went back to the house to get Bandit his own dish of food. Again, “Mew Mew” ran to greet me. She guided me back to the “dinner table for two.” I thought, how cute, as I watched them eat together, and afterward she rubbed on him as if to thank him for dinner. It was interesting to observe what appeared to be an affectionate show of appreciation. Bandit, I must have misjudged you. Bringing me this new kitty tells me that perhaps you DO trust me.
Have I misjudged others in the same way? Misunderstood a “look” upon one’s face as being mean, or disapproving, as if to say, “Don’t bother me”? Did the look actually mean a cry from a lonely heart asking for a hand of friendship extended?
Lord, please help me to overcome fear, and see others through Your loving eyes, allowing myself to be vulnerable to the risk of rejection. Perhaps faithfulness and love could win them over. That cashier or clerk who seems a bit grouchy may just need a smile and to hear, “God wants you to know that He loves you very much!” Help me to mean it, Lord, with all YOUR heart, and YOUR perfect love.