Creature Comforts 5/3/2020

By:  Jennifer Richardson Holt

There is a warm fur-clothed inhabitant on my lap.

I am just simply trying to type a blog and draped across my legs is a vibrating, softly snoring being.  This creature occasionally takes advantage of my pauses in typing to use my right hand as a chin rest. 

“I’m sorry my good fellow but I will be requiring my right hand on occasion,” I say.

The fellow disregards my comment with a minimal ear twitch.

In my case today this affectionate intrusion into my personal space is being committed by a feline. I’ve had in the past, similar infractions of a canine persuasion as well.  There is nothing quite like being used as a prop/bed/pillow for a beloved animal friend.  It’s an frustratingly adorable combination of being loved and being used that most folks who have ever known the love of an animal are all too familiar with.  There is something about a living thing being comfortable enough to sprawl itself across your person, that is amazingly endearing.  How many of us have been delayed in doing something, possibly something important, because the cat or dog had chosen us or a part of us as their nap location?

The solid black, yellow eyed individual on my lap currently (not that I can see his eyes at the moment) hasn’t lived with us long. He has been a part of our family for only a bit over a month. My daughter is lover of any and every creature that there ever was and we wanted to get her a pet.  I daresay we wanted one as much as she did.  An animal-loving child makes it more justifiable though.

Jasper came from a shelter. We met him; she fell in love; she cried because we had to go to the front desk to fill out the paperwork because she was sure we were leaving him. Mind you, this entire process took all of 6 minutes but her emotions come fast and furious.

I suppose her penchant came honestly though.    I have always loved animals and remember growing up with pets.  Apparently, when I was around 2 or 3 years old I wanted a dog.  I am not sure if my parents were just against the idea in general or just weren’t particularly inspired to put in much effort to make my desires come to pass, but I took the route to pray for one.  The next day, a canine that my father describes ever so eloquently as “part German Shepherd and part coyote ugly” showed up at our house.  He became known as Ernie as apropos for the dog of any Sesame Street loving child.  My parents were thwarted by childlike faith.  They certainly couldn’t turn away a divinely delivered furry friend now could they?

It bears remarking that, this same Ernie was later hit by a car and my father took him off somewhere, certain of his impending demise.  I don’t know the details of the “taking off somewhere” but I do know a few particulars that I vaguely remember myself and have also had repeatedly told to me over the years. I know as a very little child I prayed for that dog to be alright.  I also know that a few days later, Ernie came moseying back seemingly no worse for wear.  And you thought me calling the old boy divinely delivered was just me waxing poetic.

I really do think that us having these four legged companions is a concept that God Himself put into us.  Even those of us who insist they aren’t “animal people” can’t help but smile at a certain tail wag or just the right pitch of purr.  How could we not love them?  They give us all the best parts of love and camaraderie without all the vexing qualities that we humans are infamous for.

Oh these creatures have their flaws, don’t get me wrong!  Most of us have had the joy of an unfortunately placed bowel relief or some inedible bit, usually of significance, having its edibility clearly tested.  Our animals can try our patience to no end.  But unlike our human loved ones that are equally as efficient at such, it’s what comes after the trying that makes them so different.  Here is where the Creator took the creation and showed us how it COULD be done.

They love us unconditionally.  We can wrong them and they are still just as faithful to us.  We can leave them but they hold no grudge and offer nothing but joy when they see us again.  They can look at us with those eyes that we know have no hidden agenda and we melt.  They can ignore us but would fight to the death to protect us.  They are our family but any disappointment we risk from them will be trivial.  I suppose most of us have fond memories that involve cold noses and tails.  They are some of the warmest of recollections.

I suppose it’s a dangerous thing for us to let these furry souls into our homes. We know we’ll outlive them and we know they’ll take a piece of our hearts when we do.  But maybe it’s worth it.  Maybe they teach us enough about the virtues that we should possess that the heartache is worthwhile.  Perhaps they give us a window into an otherwise unseen world that is carefree, loving and genuinely happy.  They can show us what it’s like to be so free from stress that you can just stretch yourself across someone’s lap and rest.

My husband and I asked our daughter how it had been having a cat. She said she loves it very much.

She also says that now she needs a dog.

I told her to pray for one. If God needs to teach us another thing or two, who am I to argue?