The Beautiful Cat

"And God saw that it was good. Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over the creatures that move along the ground."
Genesis 1: 25, 26

Dear Father,

     What were you thinking of when you created the cat? In your wisdom, you provided it with all the right stuff:

• whiskers, to guide it in the dark
• smooth pads, so it would walk gracefully and quietly
• a sandpaper tongue, so it could clean efficiently
• sharp claws, for defense and survival
• a selection of teeth, to tear and to grind
• a sleek tail, for balance and poise
• ability to purr, to convey contentment
• strong legs, to jump high

     Or were you thinking of the people who would love them for their:

• curiosity, to make us laugh
• smooth heads, to kiss and to pet
• fluffy tummies in which to bury our nose
• soft fur, to spark with static beneath our hand
• glass-marble eyes, to watch our every move
• inate love, to greet us at the door and curl on our lap

     I believe you were thinking of all these things when you created this fine animal. I praise you for allowing some animals to remain in relationship with people after The Fall, because the love I share with my cat reminds me of how much you love me. What a lovely gift!