Chester’s Not Right (8/06/2023)

This week I am helping my daughter who just had knee surgery. And she has a cat. His name is Chester. He is Siamese. And he is not right. He doesn’t understand “cat.” He does his own thing which is counter to everything I know about cats. But he’s perfect at being Chester.

This isn’t a new thing. You have to understand that Chester was Izzy for the first few months of his life. My daughter bought a female Siamese and named her Izzy. Everyone was in love with Izzy. She was a lover who purred extraordinarily well when around people, and who loved to be held. Then, when my daughter took her to be spayed, she was told that would be impossible, because Izzy was a boy. Hence the name change to Chester.

Chester is huge. He doesn’t know he’s huge. The way he wants to lie on people would suggest he believes himself still a small kitten. He likes people, greets everyone, and insists on smelling every newcomer’s face. He loves to be petted and gives everyone a chance to make him purr. He doesn’t get that cats aren’t like that. He has the disposition of a dog, poor thing.

With my daughter being laid up with her leg, Chester has become my ward this week. He’s not sure about it, but he’s giving me a chance. He has been especially patient with me over his morning routine which I totally don’t get. He will talk to me, lead me to where I am to “do something” and then stand there waiting for me to do it. Most of the time, I do figure it out. When I don’t, he’ll speak to me again, take me back to the place and we’ll try something else.

Chester reminds me that we shouldn’t assume about others based on what they look like or what we think we know about them. We are all individuals, we all have to find our way, we all have to make adjustments, we are all looking for “our path.” Chester also reminds me that companions on the journey are a boon; we need to be grateful for those who are willing to walk with us and to give thanks to them.

I am sure that if someone strange was charged with caring for me that they’d be convinced in short order that I don’t get it. I do have my own way of doing things, my own way of tackling life and being me. Chester reminded me this week of that and the need to accept others and be open to who they really are rather than judge them based on who we think they are. I know he’s just a cat, but must I remind you, the LORD uses the most unusual messengers to me to bring revelations or suggest needed changes.

As we journey this week, let us remain open to those around us, refraining from judgment, appreciating the one who is rather than trying to make them the one we want them to be. Let us seek to find the goodness within others and affirm that. Let us remember that the one LORD created us all and loves us all.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.