October 29, 2003
Holiness The Cat
i had a cat named Holiness.
he became "like a daughter to me" (2 samuel 12:3)
i got him when i was 9
and he died in my arms when i was 29
it was a beautiful death.
he had a cancerous tumor that was removed and came back
and it didn't get removed in time, as it had spread.
he had gone blind and lost control of his waste functions.
i had him on towels on top of a hefty bag
and was having a quiet time that monday morning in september of 91
and just thanking God for him, such a precious friend and companion
even in his pain (i'm sorry, i think euthanasia is selfish for pet owners. i'm sorry if that offends you)...
even in his pain, he was receiving joy at my touch.
he kissed me (licked) and tipped his head up to "look" at me
and breathed his last and laid his head down in my arms.
i praise God for the privilege of witnessing such a beautiful death.
i now believe fully that death is a part of life.
it's funny to learn that from a cat,
but that was one special animal.
as a bachelor, it was easy to romanticize death
but as a husband and father, i hate death.
i like an old song by a band called Street Angel
"...for years and years our fathers taught
that death was a friend of God
But death is God's enemy
the last to be downtrod..."
i have so much more to live for now
that i fight death. God is in control
and i trust that my time is in His hands.
but, like the warrior inside of you, i have a passionate
hatred for death and the devil.
