Sunday, February 8, 2009

A lesson of love


Lately, I have been enjoying once again this lovely book of devotionals. As I read today the story of Cat and Griz, I was reminded that their fascinating story had appeared on the national news many years ago. You may have heard of them as well, as they had become a very unlikely pair of best pals: a young kitten and a grizzly bear.



Here is the devotional that I read today from that book, and I hope that it blesses you as much as it has blessed me. :)


No longer enemies

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopards shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6

The orange kitten was hungry. The grizzly bear was lonely. The man was apprehensive.

The cat weighed no more than 10 ounces when he first slid under the fence into the bear's pen. The man was almost in a panic thinking the hungry gizzly would kill him with one swat and eat him for dinner - carnivorous bears make much larger animals a part of their diet.

The grizzly, whose name was Griz, had come to the Oregon Wildlife Center in 1990 when he was just a cub. Hit by a train while foraging on railroad tracks in Montana, he suffered severe head injuries and was deemed unfit to return to the wild.

The kitten was one of four kittens abandoned at the center early in the summer. Volunteers were able to find homes for the rest of the litter, but Cat, as he was now called, somehow eluded them.

Then one day in July, Cat turned up in Griz's pen. Afraid to do anything that might alarm Griz, the man just watched, expecting the worst. As the 650-pound grizzly was eating his midday meal, something extraordinary happened. The bear very gently picked out a chicken wing with his forepaw and dropped it near Cat.

From that moment on, Griz and Cat became something of a slapstick animal act. Cat would lay in ambush, then leap out and swat Griz on his nose. Griz would carry Cat in his mouth. Cat would ride on Griz's back, and sometimes Griz would lick Cat.

Their friendly relationship defies both the patterns of nature as well as their own troubled life histories. Griz never took advantage of Cat's weaknesses, and each animal has accomodated the other's needs.

What a lesson Griz and Cat offer! We can help each other break free from the patterns of our past that keep us from loving each other. As we pray for and care for others with the love of Jesus Christ, we obtain healing by the grace of God, both for them and ourselves!

(Tea time with God, Honor Books Publishers, pages 20-21)

As I read this devotional today, I thought "how amazing is it that we can take a lesson from a couple of animals?". Indeed, we can simply remind ourselves that although we're all different from each other, and we may have experienced difficult and hurtful relationships, we can all choose friendship and love with one another over animosity and bitterness.

May love fill our hearts today and always!

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello! :)

Carol said...

Great devotional thoughts Melody, thanks for sharing!
Have a wonderful week!
Blessings,
Carol

valerie said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog.
I love "meeting" new friends & am loving your blog already.
You've got some good lookin' recipes. And this devotion was very good and so true.
The fruit pizza from my blog is really easy.
You just need one package (tube)? of refrigerated sugar cookie dough.
Spread it out on a cookie sheet or pizza pan and cook at 350 for about 9 min. or so.
Mix together one pkg. cream cheese (softened) and a small jar of marshmallow cream. Spread that on the cooled cookie. Add the fruit of your choice. So easy, but so good!
Have a great week!

valerie said...

P.S. I have a sister named Melody.

Yolanda said...

I happen to have this same little devotional book that my precious God-son gave me.

Thanks for stopping today,
Yolanda

Anonymous said...

Hi Melody,

This is such a good story and that sounds like a great devotional book you have.

Hope you have a great week.

LisaShaw said...

Melody, wonderful message! Thanks for visting with me today and the sweet comment left about my daughter and myself.

God bless and keep your heart close to His.

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

I have this book also! Thanks for sharing! blessings,Kathleen

Anonymous said...

This was such a sweet story! Great lesson in it too. Thanks for sharing.

Lois Christensen said...

Thanks for sharing the lovely devotional. We need to remember to get along with everyone, not just those who are so much like us! What a wonderful way to put it, thanks!!!

Susan B said...

What a beautiful devotional story! Thank you for sharing it.

Diane@Diane's Place said...

What a touching devotional, Melody. :o)

Hope you have a great new week, my friend.

Love and hugs,

Diane

April said...

Melody~
What a wonderful devotional and a very touching story to go along with it...thanks so much for sharing!!!

elizabeth said...

Thank you for this beautiful lesson today. Sometimes when you hear it like this it can make a much bigger impact than just having somebody say "can't we all just get along". :)

Barb said...

Melody, what a beautiful and timely story.

Thanks for visiting me at Bella Vista yesterday and your lovely comments.

Hugs!

Elena said...

What a great devotional! Thanks for sharing it. It reminds me of a You Tube video/news clip I saw a few weeks back. Here is the link. I think you will like it:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs_a98AySNk

The Victorian Parlor said...

A wonderful devotional! Thanks for sharing:)

ChaChaneen said...

GREAT post today! I love it! Thanks for sharing!

Tea Time With Melody said...

What a great story. I want to get that book for my sister. Thanks.

SarahHub said...

Such a beautiful devotion!

Toodlebugz said...

What a sweet story! Thank you for bringing a smile to my face! :o)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

This is just the sweetest story ever! It makes me want to cry (but in a good way). I can't even fathom seeing that kitty riding in the grizzly's mouth and on this back, or the grizzly letting the cat swat at him. ]

It's funny sometimes that when animals find themselves in unfamiliar and somewhat lonely circumstances, they will adapt to other animals that are nearby. Somehing similar happened with a baby hippo and a giant tortoise in an animal preserve. I just think we really can learn a lesson from this. And I can't wait till the day that all enmity is done with forever. :-)

Thanks for sharing!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Christy Lee said...

Thank you for sharing your devotional. I am always interested to hear what others are reading. Take care!

Christy Lee
*~Petals and Pine~*

Heather said...

Thank you for sharing, what a great post!

TSS said...

Hello. I liked the story and wasn't aware this book exists. Will have get me a copy.

Have a great day

Kristi said...

What a fantastic Word today! Thanks for sharing the blessing. Happy Valentine's Day to you!!!!

Kathi~Lavender, Lace and Thyme said...

Tea Time With God, I must get the book! I loved the little story, thank you for sharing it Melody :)

Thank you for dropping by while I was ill, your thoughts and prayers meant so much to me!

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
Valentine's Hugs,
Kathi :)

Debra Kaye said...

Such a great lesson...I pray we all can learn from it somewhat! :)

Blessings to you today!

Mother Mayhem said...

I had never heard the story of Griz and Cat. I have followed Cocoa the gorilla and her love of cats though. Thanks for sharing. It makes a lovely point. :o)

Anonymous said...

I have this book from years ago when I sold it - I don't think honor books exists anymore but this was a great one!

Jess said...

Wonderful post....so good to stop by...I have missed blogging so much lately...

hope all is well with you

Love,Jess

delighted heart said...

What an amazing story! And so true your comments! I'm giving a way an amazing book I've just read tonight at midnight. Stop by and leave me a comment and I'll put your name in the hat! Have a great week!
Blessings!
patti

Liz said...

Great devotional. I have "Coffeetime with God" devotional...I love it! Your blog is GREAT! Liz

Tardevil said...

Very sweet.