We adopted a cat, Patches, about 13 years ago at this point. Great cat. We all love her. We knew nothing about cats when we took her in. But we learned quickly & are still learning. Case in point:
HAIRBALLS.
OK, so she has had them since we get her. Nothing new there. But recently, they have begun to get to me. So I “googled” this morning. First sentence I read said this….
“No two ways about it: Hairballs in cats are unpleasant.”
Thanks, Sherlock. Tell me something I don’t already know. They are more unpleasant for the one wiping them up than for the one producing them. Trust me, that is why I was on your site!
Then some words to describe the action: “hacking, gagging & retching.” Not a pretty picture. Even worse to hear while our bedroom was still dark.
Now trust me. I am not just writing this to disgust anyone. There truly is a point to all this. Cats produce hairballs as a result of grooming themselves. Loose fur gets stuck on their prickly tongues & their stomachs just cannot handle it all. The more fastidious the cat, the greater odds of hairball production.
While cats may be unable to rid themselves of what will make them “sick”, we are given some instructions on keeping ourselves spiritually healthy:Â
- But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” (Colossians 3:8 NIV).
- “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” (1 Peter 2:1 NIV). Peter lists the things that we need to be rid of so that we can grow in our Christian life.
- “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent.” (James 1:21 NIV).Â
Much the same way that a cat grooms herself, we must examine ourselves, do a little spiritual grooming, if you will. Rid ourselves of those things that are making us spiritually ill so that we are not spewing on others. We do not want those around us to live in fear of those times when we may do a little “hacking, gagging & retching” ourselves. We surely do not want to inflict such ugliness on those we live with. We don’t want those around us to have to clean up the aftermath of having been in our company.
There are things that can be done to help prevent hairballs: regular grooming, special hairball formula foods, etc. Scripture also tells us what we can do:
- “…humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” (James 1:21b NIV). Taking in God’s Word in our diet each day can keep us growing.
- “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2: 2 NIV). Develop a craving for that which is good for you. By ridding ourselves of what hampers our growth, we make room for that which will cause us to grow in the the Lord.
May today be a day of grooming. Spiritual grooming that is.
May today be the start of healthy doses of God’s Word applied to our lives.
May today be a hairball free day!!!
