Oh no! How can it be that my sweet Samantha cat, my own dear blue-gray cat with the huge crystal amber eyes we raised from a teeny kitten (together with her even younger sister Violet), my loving, dear, affectionate cat is……HISSING. Yes, hisssssing. Meanly. How is this possible! As are all our “tribe” of cats and a dog, she’s adopted and a loving member of our family. The object of her bad behavior, though, was our newest cat, a handsome loving male named Jazz, whom we integrated into our family. He is such a dear cat, so laid back, doesn’t rush to get in front of anybody else trying to guzzle from the food bowl or grab a drink of water. He always waits his turn….which is usually last of all. But he does it so calmly and gently! No trying to hurry anybody up or get in their way. It was clear from the start that he watched from the background to get the lay of the land and adapted to the particular protocol, or “cat-i-tude” of our felines in the household. And patient? Jazz is the most “longsuffering” cat we’ve ever seen. When hissed at and we rush to comfort him and scold the offending hisser, he looks at us as if to say, “don’t worry about it…..I’ve been through this before… things will get better”.
But things DIDN’T get better. Well, things were relaxed so long as Samantha and Jazz (a handsome part Bengal cat with the sweetest disposition) were not in the same room, and then not on the same couch or bed. But I could tell that Jazz was becoming frustrated. He wanted everybody to be friends but he clearly didn’t know how to *be* in this household. He’d tried being quiet and the “give them space” mode, and STILL got hissed at. Then he tried the ultimate “show them they can trust me and I can be vulnerable” move which was astonishing to watch. In front of a conflicted and well, nasty acting Samantha, I witnessed Jazz perform the act which is the ultimate in vulnerability among both cats and dogs (and wolves). He slowly lay down near Samantha, with eyes averted in a submissive manner and rolled over to expose his vulnerable soft neck. Samantha’s eyes got even wider than usual and I dared to think things would be lovely from here on out. Wrong. She watched Jazz perform this exercise in vulnerability and trust and waited two or three beats…..before she HISSED at him again with wild eyes and ran off.
Next, Jazz went through a time of hissing at Samantha (can you blame him?) because I think he felt maybe the vulnerability move he’d done caused her to lose what little respect she’d had. Ah, well, this didn’t work either. With both cats and people, hissing is never a good thing. I’m happy to report that FINALLY, perhaps due to being in closer quarters on vacation, or realizing that when it comes to traveling they’re all in this together, but there is no hissing and at least détente on Samantha’s part. There is improvement every day toward a happy relationship together.
This got me thinking about our church. Are you a “Jazz”, laid back but also maybe allowing others to mistreat brothers and sisters in Christ, perhaps even making excuses for them (like, “oh that’s just how so-and-so is”) regardless of how hurtful their comments might be, or are you sometimes how Samantha was….hissing in your own way at others and being far less than how Christ would have you be?
As September begins and we resume our regular schedule, it’s a good time to take stock and think about what the Bible says about how to be encouragers to one another, instead of those who might participate in tearing people down…even by standing silently by. Here are some scriptures to assist in sharing how the Lord would have us all be with one another: “Therefore encourage one another and built up one another…” 1 Thess. 5:6. “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the things of building up of one another.” Romans 14:9 “Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.” Romans 15:2 and “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29
What we can learn first hand from our animals! This year why not look more deeply in your Bible ( your “owner’s manual” for living life) and practice what you see as encouraging, edifying behavior and words which build up others…..and will make your life more satisfying, too!
From the latest mailing from the Pat Brody Shelter for Cats: Live simply. “Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And leave the rest to God.” Amen!
But things DIDN’T get better. Well, things were relaxed so long as Samantha and Jazz (a handsome part Bengal cat with the sweetest disposition) were not in the same room, and then not on the same couch or bed. But I could tell that Jazz was becoming frustrated. He wanted everybody to be friends but he clearly didn’t know how to *be* in this household. He’d tried being quiet and the “give them space” mode, and STILL got hissed at. Then he tried the ultimate “show them they can trust me and I can be vulnerable” move which was astonishing to watch. In front of a conflicted and well, nasty acting Samantha, I witnessed Jazz perform the act which is the ultimate in vulnerability among both cats and dogs (and wolves). He slowly lay down near Samantha, with eyes averted in a submissive manner and rolled over to expose his vulnerable soft neck. Samantha’s eyes got even wider than usual and I dared to think things would be lovely from here on out. Wrong. She watched Jazz perform this exercise in vulnerability and trust and waited two or three beats…..before she HISSED at him again with wild eyes and ran off.
Next, Jazz went through a time of hissing at Samantha (can you blame him?) because I think he felt maybe the vulnerability move he’d done caused her to lose what little respect she’d had. Ah, well, this didn’t work either. With both cats and people, hissing is never a good thing. I’m happy to report that FINALLY, perhaps due to being in closer quarters on vacation, or realizing that when it comes to traveling they’re all in this together, but there is no hissing and at least détente on Samantha’s part. There is improvement every day toward a happy relationship together.
This got me thinking about our church. Are you a “Jazz”, laid back but also maybe allowing others to mistreat brothers and sisters in Christ, perhaps even making excuses for them (like, “oh that’s just how so-and-so is”) regardless of how hurtful their comments might be, or are you sometimes how Samantha was….hissing in your own way at others and being far less than how Christ would have you be?
As September begins and we resume our regular schedule, it’s a good time to take stock and think about what the Bible says about how to be encouragers to one another, instead of those who might participate in tearing people down…even by standing silently by. Here are some scriptures to assist in sharing how the Lord would have us all be with one another: “Therefore encourage one another and built up one another…” 1 Thess. 5:6. “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the things of building up of one another.” Romans 14:9 “Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.” Romans 15:2 and “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29
What we can learn first hand from our animals! This year why not look more deeply in your Bible ( your “owner’s manual” for living life) and practice what you see as encouraging, edifying behavior and words which build up others…..and will make your life more satisfying, too!
From the latest mailing from the Pat Brody Shelter for Cats: Live simply. “Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And leave the rest to God.” Amen!
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