I spend a lot of time in solitude as my husband enjoys running errands and working in the garden, not to mention sleeping very late every day. In my quiet times, I have a lot of time to reflect and this morning, I was thinking about the life of our cat Daisy.

This, my friends, is Daisy. She loves to sit in boxes and will figure out a way to fit into a box even if it is actually too small to accommodate her. Her persistence is admirable and so I want to make Daisy’s attributes the topic of today’s post.

We got Daisy when she was a very tiny four month old kitten. She used to sit in my lap most of the time, snuggled up close to me, kneading, purring and settling. She knew instinctively that I was her person and so began to learn things from me. I taught her to sit and beg for her treats. Although she will be nine years old next month, when I shake the treat bag, she comes running and when I say “Sit” she does so obediently and instantly. Sometimes, I just have to point to the floor and she sits. If I want her to beg, I don’t give her the treat until she is sitting, I hold the treat higher and she gets up on her back legs and begs for it. So cute! And so trainable. In fact, Daisy also walks beside me as I go from room to room in the house, never taking her eyes off my feet and watching exactly where I am going. It is only when I sit down that she pauses, looks at me to make sure I am no longer active and either settles in my lap or on the back of my chair. Finally, Daisy loves unconditionally. If I get preoccupied and forget to feed her on time, she still wants to be with me and show me affection. If I don’t turn on the bathroom sink so she can drink from the faucet, she taps my hand to remind me, but she doesn’t scratch or bite me. She just gives me loving reminders of what her expectations are.

My person that I depend on, lean on and want to be always around is Jesus. I could learn a lot from Daisy about being obedient and following closely as well as being persistent. I want to follow Jesus so closely that all of His actions and movements are exactly what I do. I want to listen so carefully that when he says to do something, I obey right away, with hesitation and knowing that what He has in store for me will be good. I want to be persistent in prayer and in my time with the Lord daily, knowing that is the most important time of my day. Snuggling up with God and His Word in my comfy recliner is like being in a nice, well-fitting box. God doesn’t hold me there; I get in voluntarily and enjoy my stay in the place that is best for me. God give me loving reminders of His expectations for me all the time, but He is never impatient or demanding, just loving and gentle.

Just as God says we can learn a lot from the birds who have no worries but know that He will take care of them, I can also learn a lot from watching Daisy. She is loyal and trusts me to take care of her every day. I want to be totally loyal to God and trust Him wholeheartedly to meet my needs daily.

I can have the same peace that Daisy has as she sleeps in my lap if only I keep my mind focused on God, trusting Him completely to take care of everything while I rest.

I want to listen as carefully as Daisy listens. She hears me pick up her treat bag and comes running from the back bedroom or wherever she was. She learned to obey my commands and to come when I summon her. Most people tell me that cats don’t come when they are called. Well, Daisy does. If I say, “Daisy, come” she does. She knows that I am ready to feed her or give her a treat or just sit and cuddle with her. How often does the Lord tell me to come and I am so busy with other things that I do not hear His voice? How many times have I missed out on something from the Lord because I have not listened carefully for His voice? That’s why being like Daisy and carefully listening all the time is a good thing. I want to always be ready to hear and obey the voice of the Lord.

I think of Daisy as a gift from the Lord nine years ago. She has taught me a lot about focus and persistence and even obedience and love. Have you learned anything from the animals around you? Have they taught you anything about God’s love for you?