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Topic: Pets (09/13/04)
TITLE: Simple Lessons By Billie Jo Youmans 09/20/04 |
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But learning I am. Not only am I learning the shallowness of my definition of love, I am learning what a tremendous example pets are for living as God designed. In my more reflective moments—when the house is clean and devoid of paw prints, when guests have been fed and departed, when I am sick and the pets gather around the couch watching over me…I recognize their contributions. As I watch the kittens play with abandon and sheer joy in one another’s presence, I see a model of joyful living. When the tiger cat curls up with our pug, I see friendship that is pure and heart-based. The purring of the cats as I bend to pick them up (often just to put them downstairs) reveals hope and acceptance often unseen in this world. The pets never doubt themselves or react from their own insecurities. They live and love out of their simplicity in a manner that humbles this introspective, self-examiner.
Most importantly, though, is how they reveal the self-centeredness of my ‘love.’ I’ve learned that sincere love embraces the loved one for their own distinctiveness—not for how the loved one makes me feel. It is the emptiness of my love that magnifies the love of my Creator. Our heavenly Father treasures the unique-ness of each one of us, and He longs for us to love one another as He does. I want to learn more about living out of the rich simplicity of His love, and I think our pesky pets are a tool He is using to re-shape my heart to be more like His. Who wants those animals in my house? I do.