Beloved, let us love one another,

for love is from God;

and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

I John 4:7

I was the only one who came to Hulen Tower II for work this morning (being all by myself in this huge building is kind of spooky). As I walked up the front steps, there was a cat sitting at the big glass door, looking in. I stopped, but he heard me and turned, every muscle tense, frightened and ready to fight for his life. What a mess he was! His fur was all matted with sores everywhere, ear torn, skin and bones. . . .

“Here kitty, kitty.”I knelt. “Will you let me pet you? I’ll take you home with me; I’ll clean you up and feed you. You’d be warm there and you’d have a basket to sleep in–or you could sleep on my lap. And you wouldn’t have to hide or fight anymore, either. I’ll take good care of you. Oh, don’t run away. Please don’t run away! I promise I won’t hurt you.I only want to love you. Here kitty, kitty . . ..”

Remember our little brown and white friend, Oreo, who ran away rather than live with stress and unhappy people? Well, Oreo can be salvaged. Someone will have to come into his life who isn’t afraid of getting scratched or dirty; someone who won’t hesitate to rummage through the garbage pails or crawl under the house to find him–a kitty cat whose heart is beating like crazy, but who’s trying to act awfully tough. And that someone will have to spend time waiting for Oreo to come to the food dish. They’ll have to be there, and Oreo will gradually get used to their presence and won’t be so afraid. Trust will come slowly, but it will come… and then one day, that someone will actually be able to hold that furry, little brown and white creature, to bring him in to the comfort and security he had once known and touch where it hurts with love.

A kitty cat story, but are you there? Is someone you love hiding in places where they would never have gone if “home” had been there for them? Are you hiding from anyone who might try to touch you, care for you, love you? You, too, like Oreo, can be salvaged. He, our Papa, is tenderly calling you, urging you, “Please don’t run away!”

Lord, You have called and called and I’ve been too afraid to come. I don’t want to be hurt again. Thank You for Your patience with me. Will You keep calling? Will You still reach out to me and give me time to not be scared of You? It’s such a frightening thing to be abandoned and left to face the world by myself. I want to come to You, Lord. Do You really love me? Are You safe?

Lord, reveal the answer to these intense questions, please.