I can’t claim to know what animals are thinking but looking at this picture we might imagine Stormy and Kefir are mad at one another and about ready to get into a fight. They look more like foes than friends as they face each other with fierce expressions. Stormy seems to be saying, “I’m going to get you!” and Kefir replies, “Go ahead and try!”
They are actually good friends and this standoff was in the middle of a playful wrestling match. Their idea of fun is to pounce on one another, biting, and scratching each other with spirited ferocity. A few minutes later they laid together on the floor in this patch of sunlight.
Sometimes Stormy and Kefir want Christy and I to join them in their fierce game, but we don’t like that kind of play. We know someone will get hurt and usually it will be us. We have the scratches and scars to prove it.
Thinking about these two friends fierce play caused me to consider how we act and react to one another. We don’t always realize the consequences of our behavior. We may not pounce on one another physically, but verbally people attack one another every day.
Just look at our race for presidency. No matter which candidate we follow, we have seen attack after attack from all sides. They seem more like fierce enemies than competitors in an election.
We see the same behavior in families, schools, work places, and yes even in the church. We as children of God, and followers of Christ know a better way. Jesus calls us to love and forgive one another, and to treat everyone with care and kindness as if they were Christ himself.
We tend to blame other people for our own bad behavior, and fail to recognize the damage we cause or contribute to by our lack of unconditional love. If we want to make our world better, we can by showing and sharing the grace of God with everyone. We can change our world by being a friend not a foe, by lifting up not knocking down, and by reaching out not pushing away.
Thank God that God treats us with love and compassion, even when we do not deserve it. Find a friend in everyone, and be a friend to all. I will see you in church, and remember, God loves us more than we can ever imagine, and I love you too.
Tom
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