Little Girl -- A Lesson in Delight

I know it has been a long time since I posted anything. I won't go into all the reasons why.

It is a few days past Christmas. I am not going to bother with a Christmas themed post. We all know the amazing gift that God gave us in sending His Son Jesus.

I am going to continue with the theme of what I have learned from my pets. Little Girl is my favourite. When we got her, she was the smallest and cutest kitten in the litter. She was supposed to be 8 weeks old, but the vet said she couldn't be more than four weeks. We thought we got a male kitten (before you get on my case, gender is not as obvious in cats as many other animals). I soon came to the realization that we had a little girl cat. The name “Little Girl” stuck. She is still very little. She has two offspring; both are twice her size. Gurt is one of them.

The first thing I learn from Little Girl is that although God does not have favourites, we are each treated as if we are His favourite! In my humanness, I must admit that Little Girl is my favourite. My time, energy and emotions are all limited. God has no such limitations. He can meet all my needs and spend incredible time with me without taking away from anyone else! Praise God. We always have His full attention, His full support, His complete affection, His completely satisfying love. WOW!

The second thing I learn from Little Girl comes from why she is my favourite. She almost always comes when I call her. This is rather unusual for cats. They are often too independent to come when you want them to, unless of course food is involved. She comes because she obviously delights in spending time with me. I often take naps during the day. She will eagerly follow me into my room, hoping I am going to have a nap, so she can cuddle up with me. We spend a lot of time snuggled up together with her purring very loudly. She also licks me, desperately trying to groom as much of me as possible – it is the only gift she has to give.

So why is she my favourite – because she delights to be with me. She eagerly seeks me out. She comes when I call. She offers me everything she has to give. Although God doesn't have favourites, I am sure we delight Him when we respond to Him as Little Girl responds to me.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord. (Jer 29:13-14a)

The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, if you keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deut 30:9b-10)

And of course, what is the greatest commandment? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Mt 22:37). It is the greatest commandment because that is what God wants most from us.

Little Girl desperately tries to groom me. What else does a cat have to offer? Do I give my all to God? Do I give Him my time, my energy, my gifts and talents, my wealth, my dreams?

“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” (Lk 14:33)

God wants us to give Him everything (btw, He gave it to us in the first place). He often lets us keep much of it, but He wants us to release our hold on things, people, jobs, hobbies, plans, and dreams. When we do this for God, our love for Him is evident, and He delights in us!

When Little Girl is with me she purrs with all her heart I'm sure God loves it when I cuddle up with Him and sing to Him. (I know I don't do this nearly enough.) He loves it when I choose to spend time with Him!

God is delighted when I delight myself in Him!

Father,

Thank You so much for Your incredible love, which You expressed so completely in sending Your Son to live on earth and die for our sins! Thank You that You WANT a relationship with each one of us! Sometimes we don't understand why You do, but may we each be encouraged that You DO love each of us so much that Jesus died for each one of us. Let us delight ourselves in You. Give us hearts that long to be with You. Open our eyes to see wonderful things in Your Word. Open our eyes to see Your expressions of love throughout the day. Let us give You all that we have and all that we are, not out of duty or fear, but out of desperate love. To You we give all honour, glory, and praise.