They had been together since the moment of conception, forming in the same womb and birthed at the same time. All seemed normal for the first six weeks of life, and then the unexpected happened. The sextuplets were abruptly snatched from their mother, thrust into a box and abandoned on a cool autumn night in a church parking lot. The pastoral couple that stumbled on them had pity on these helpless infants, took them home, and attempted to adopt them out. Within a few days, two were placed in new homes. But soon more tragedy struck. Predators stalked, moved in and killed two of the remaining infants.
With each passing day, the two survivors saw new growth. Now that mama and the other siblings were gone, these two furry kittens followed us around the house purring up a storm. How could we resist them? Almost simultaneous to this, our two Siamese cats of 11 years experienced failing health and within a few weeks they died. Now more than ever these two “crispy critters,” as I have come to call them, became a treasure and weaseled their way into our hearts.
The bonds continued to grow and the two became inseparable. Mutually grooming one another, cuddling each other, and frolicking together, this dynamic duo was rapidly becoming a sister act. However, calamity struck again. These two female kittens that would soon be six months old were on the verge of developing hormones that could lead to undesired reproduction. So in a moment of total oblivion to them, they were shoved back in a box and hauled to the vet. When they regained consciousness several hours later, they had a three-inch slash down their abdomens and walked like a couple of passengers on a cruise ship caught in a tsunami. Each went to its own corner of the house to sulk and recover.
What happened in the following days was an interesting observation in animal behavior. These two kittens, which had previously been inseparable, now wanted nothing to do with each other. Not only were they not on speaking terms, things had become downright chaotic and violent. Anytime one would slightly encroach on the other’s personal space, there would be hissing and gnashing of teeth. Ears would go back, deep guttural moans would be heard and claws were poised to strike.
This went on for days. I was puzzled by this previously unfamiliar behavior and decided it was time to have a little family conference. Grabbing both cats and placing them face-to-face in an attempt of forced reconciliation, the real battle began, and I was in the middle. Now they were not only hissing and clawing at each other but also at me. Frustrated and confused, I picked up the phone.
“What on earth did you do to our cats?” I incredulously asked the vet.
“Everything will be fine Mr. White. Your kittens are in major pain. They’ve just had their insides overhauled, and they’re taking their pain out on each other. Give them time and space and things will come around,” the vet explained.
Yeah, right, I thought. Easy for you to say—you’re not living in the middle of this.
The behavior continued a few more days. Then nearly a week after the surgery, I found the kittens curled up on a blanket grooming each other, purring and acting as if nothing had ever happened. Wow. A lesson in animal behavior? The more I reflected, the more I realized that what I’d witnessed was a microcosm of human behavior.
Pain plus stress equals conflict. I have observed this too many times, and sadly, even been a part of it. Why is it that we hurt those we love the most? Why is it that when we hurt, we hurt? And how do we deal with the pain that causes us to hurt others? I’m not a behavioral scientist, but what I learned from observing my two “crispy critters” is that once the pain was gone, the joy and energy returned. So the question becomes: How do we get rid of the pain?
It’s interesting to note that the major focus of Christ’s earthly ministry was healing pain, physical and emotional. I have come to realize from my personal observations and experiences that when someone is in pain and then inflicts pain, it’s because of an obvious lack of the Spirit of Jesus. It’s when those selfish, self-preservation feelings take over that we inflict pain on others. So what’s the solution? Let me offer a few suggestions.
Seek forgiveness
Don’t dig your heels in and attempt to justify your behavior. Pride is what caused Lucifer’s fall, and it’s our biggest battle. Don’t be too proud to say “I’m sorry.”
Be forgiving
If someone has inflicted pain on you, forgive them. Don’t retaliate, causing more pain. Our unwillingness to be forgiving only perpetrates the punitive cycle.
Seek the mind of Christ
At the risk of sounding trite, I draw your attention to the words of the Apostle Paul. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5, NKJV). When I act out my pain on others, I’m not demonstrating the “mind of Christ.”
The way we treat each other actually reveals our current relationship with Jesus. Notice the words of Christ as recorded in John’s gospel:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34, NKJV).
How are you treating those around you—your family, your church family, your work associates? Is there hissing and gnashing of teeth? Jesus told His followers: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (verse 35).
You never know what lessons the Lord might teach you, even from a couple of stray kittens.
Blessings,
Pastor Phil