My daughter Lily takes after me when it comes to loving animals. We have three cats and two dogs and she’s always playing with one of them. Wrapping them in blankets like a baby or trying to dress them up somehow. We had picked up two kittens at the same time at a yard sale. I had picked out a calico one and my daughter picked the tan and white one. They were so cute that it was hard not to pick them up and cuddle with them. The tan and white ones we named,” Peanut butter”, and the calico one, “Jelly.” Peanut butter loved the attention and let you know constantly that he needs to be petted. Jelly on the other hand was very skittish and awkward to pet. She looked as though she was having a seizure but hyper at the same time, and quite comical to watch actually. If you would walk over to her she would jam…” No pun intended.” My wife and I built a little cat skyscraper thing with a box on top for them to lay in. The only chance you had of petting her was when she was asleep and in that box. As soon as she woke up however she would start jolting around wanting to get away from you. I had to tell my daughter that she cannot go over and grab her and hold her against her will. Something must have happened when she was younger with the human for her to be acting that way and we needed to show her love a little bit at a time. I would never look jelly in the eyes when I approached her I would look out the window or at the bookshelf and slowly reach my hand in for the most awkward pet in the world. I would also move very slowly when I was around her is not to spook her. I wanted to show her how much we truly loved her and how patient we could be on this journey. Our plan worked, it’s been about a year now and things are going splendidly. Jelly will jump up on the bed and snuggle with us and loves being petted now she just lays there and let this rub her tummy and scratch your back. The relationship I have with this cat reminds me of the relationship that I had with God early on. I didn’t want to go all-in for fear that I would be rejected or embarrassed. But God showed me love slowly through different experiences and difficulties in my life. He doesn’t force himself upon you, he waits, stands at the door, and knocks. All we have to do to have the greatest love in the universe is to open up our hearts and ask him to join us. “Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me.” If you would like Jesus to come into your heart today but you’ve been too scared to ask or not sure that you want to jump all in, then pray with me now and see how He can change your life. Dear Heavenly Father, we have lived our lives the way that we wanted to up till now. We would like to open up the door and let you into our hearts and our minds. Help to remodel the way that we think and see and hear. Heavenly Father lead us, guide us, and teach us how to be closer to you. In Jesus’ precious name amen!!!!
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