How I Learned to Pray for Little Things

Following up on last week I wanted to tell you that Pepper Cat is recovering nicely. He is still a little funny looking because he was shaved on his neck for surgery. But Pepper is back to many of is old habits. He wakes us in the morning and wants to snuggle. He rests all day in his favorite spot, a wool blanket by the window. His purr is beginning to sound normal again. And he likes a nip of tuna, partly because he’s still learning to eat dry food after his operation. It almost makes us forget the bad week we had last week.

I was thinking of how I never really wanted a cat in the first place. So here from my first book of writings is a little something about how Pepper won my heart. Here is

How I Learned to Prayer for Little Things

I sat in the adult Sunday school class as they gathered prayer requests. There were many concerns: prayer for a cancelled wedding, a dying parent, a major career change, a family move. And all I could think of is, “Please God help our family find a cat we can adopt.” In the light of all those major pleas for help, comfort, and guidance I remained mute with my concern.

My son had been campaigning for our family to acquire a pet for nearly a year. We had agreed on adopting a cat in the summer when we would all be home more often to make the new critter welcome. For a month we had gone weekly to pet stores and the humane society. Twice we had come close to finding the right animal but it had never worked out. My son was sad and frustrated and I was beginning to share his conviction, “We’re never gonna find a cat!”

So that Sunday morning I finally offered my silent concern, “Please Father God our family needs help finding a pet. We need a kitty that likes children. We need a kitty I, the non-cat person can love and care for. We need a kitty my husband the cat lover approves. And the kitty can’t be orange.” That afternoon we ventured all the way into San Francisco to the SPCA and from thirty cats found the one gray tiger tabby that was our cat.

I think to pray in times of crisis, I even remember to praise in times of joy but I often forget that God wants to be in every detail of my life. He cares about the huge experiences and the little joys as well.

Thank you God for Pepper the cat.

Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught.
Psalms 55:1-2

Posted 5/2/2006 @ 7:25 PM | Weekly Thoughts