"Shhhh...he's asleep," I answered quietly. Not that it
would have mattered. He seemed comatose. I could move
around, stand up, speak loudly and do just about anything
while he slept peacefully in my arms.
"Man, he's a real coma kitty, isn't he?" Jan said as she
rubbed his fur. She looked at me and we laughed, knowing
we had just found a name for him.
Coma Kitty was a perfect pet. He would come in the house,
have a meal, sleep in an empty lap for awhile, then return back
outside. A little food, rest and loving and he was ready to face
the world.
Three months later, on Christmas day, I buried him.
Though his time on earth was fleeting, he brought joy and
comfort into our lives in ways he could never know or
understand. For you see, a few weeks before the cat appeared,
Bacchus had died.
Questions: Have you ever lost a loved one? How did you
deal with the grief? Did you work too much or drink too
much? Were you angry with God, another person, or the
situation that took your loved one away?
Homework: Sit down and write a letter. Start with the
sentence, "I will never forgive _______ for taking _______
away from me." For example, "I will never forgive God for
taking my wife away from me," or "I will never forgive my
spouse for divorcing me." Write down all the grief, anger and
bitterness you have experienced through the years. Sign the
letter, read it out loud, then seal it. Lay it on the table before
you and bow your head. Then give the letter to God and ask
His forgiveness.
Scripture: Genesis 3, 45, Proverbs 19, 25, 29, 30, Matthew 6,
18, Luke 15, Psalm 51.
Prayer: "Lord, how can You forgive us if we are unwilling
to forgive others? Word. I'm sorry for harboring the anger and
resentment in my heart for so long. Please forgive me. Take
this letter in exchange for the forgiveness I need so desperately.