Meet Buffalo Bob.
Bobby joined our family a few months ago after we learned he was homeless and needed a forever home. Just look at that cute little face and you will know why we agreed to take him.
Initially, we kept Bobby in an upstairs room. He stayed in that room just long enough to integrate him into the current cat culture of our house.
Not too long ago, one of our cats died of old age. I don’t know if cats mourn, but the other cats in our home seemed to miss their friend. Bobby filled Peewee’s spot.
Bobby makes four.
First, we have Junior. We rescued him from a long stay at the League City Animal Shelter. Junior is the current alpha cat, but Bobby is auditioning for the position. Second, we have Gabriel. We chose Gabriel from a litter of kittens that belonged to one of my VBS students. Third, we have Ellie Mae. Ellie used to belong to my daughter, Sarah, who could not keep her when she moved into an apartment several years ago. We took Ellie on a temporary basis, but she ended up staying. Ellie has multiple issues… She is afraid of everything and couldn’t care less about having cat friends. Ellie enjoys solitary living, and Bobby is yet to meet her.
Bobby is part cat, part rabbit, and part flying squirrel. This is proven by certain behaviors, like… flying with the greatest of ease onto the short landing strip of our dinner table. Yes, this happened during dinner. He also enjoys nibbling on the cords behind my computer, wrestling Junior, and playing soccer with paper balls.
As I noted earlier, Bobby stayed in an upstairs room for a while, especially at night. Every morning I heard him singing the song of his people… “Me-out! Me-out!”
Whenever I opened the door, he would look at me and then immediately start playing with the bottom of the door. At first, I thought a toy might be stuck between the door and the carpet, but I quickly realized that Bobby likes to play with any moving object.
One morning, I was in a hurry, but Bobby was not. He wanted to play with the door. In my hurried mood, I said to Bobby… “I’ve given you freedom. Stop playing with the thing that barred your freedom.” Of course, Bobby doesn’t understand English, but at that moment I knew I had a topic for my next Lamplight article!
John 8:34-36 (NKJV) - Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Everyone born into this world is spiritually homeless and enslaved by sin. God loves us so much that He opened the door to freedom through His Son. As believers, we receive God’s embrace of grace. Jesus sets us free from the captivity of sin, and what a glorious moment it is when a sinner walks through the Lord’s door to freedom… “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” - Luke 15:10 NKJV
As I ponder this scripture, I wonder why believers are so easily distracted by the very thing that once held them captive. How many times do we find ourselves toying with sin instead of walking in the spiritual freedom that Jesus provides? Maybe it’s an old habit that won’t be tamed or possibly an inner struggle with fear, pride or unforgiveness. In most cases it is multiple issues. God knows our distracted hearts and He wants our undivided attention.
Now is the time to obediently serve Him. No more toying with captivity. It’s time to be "free indeed."
Remember this… you are loved, and you are always in my prayers.
In Christ, Cheryl