“Four things on earth are small,
yet they are extremely wise:
Ants are creatures of little strength,
yet they store up their food in the summer;
hyraxes are creatures of little power,
yet they make their home in the crags;
locusts have no king,
yet they advance together in ranks;
a lizard can be caught with the hand,
yet it is found in kings’ palaces.”-Proverbs 30-24-28, NIV
Mr. Pickles staying warm in cold, Minnesota
As I was driving today, I saw someone walking their dog in this beautiful summer weather we are having here in Minnesota. It got me thinking about animals, character, and infidelity. And it reminded me of my own old, furry friend.
I think animals get a bad reputation when it comes to behavior.
With all the talk about infidelity and cheating being “natural” whereas fidelity and monogamy being “unnatural,” I object strongly. We have plenty of animals in nature that mate for life. Do we call them “unnatural?” Of course, not.
In fact, I think animals put humans to shame often times. Even the writer of Proverbs suggests humans can learn a thing or two from animals.
I had a cat named Mr. Pickles. He was a God-send for me while I was going through the dark valleys of separation, adultery-discovery, divorce, and recovery. I do not know what I would have done without him.*
Mr. Pickles was more loyal to me than my first wife. He eagerly awaited my coming home often greeting me at the door. And he happily shared “my” bed each night nestling at my feet purring as he slept. All of that was more than my cheating ex did for me in the end even though she had chosen to be my wife.
Mr. Pickles put her to shame.
And he is not the only cat who demonstrated greater character than a cheater. Another cat story is about a cat my great aunt and uncle had. She awoke them in the middle of the night alerting them to a fire in their home. They escaped. Sadly, this cat likely did not.
Maybe you have a dog? Or maybe it is a bird? Or maybe a whole family of precious animals? I don’t know.
As I write this today, I just want to encourage you:
If an animal can display such loyalty, I am confident (and know) humans can as well.
And I thank God for Mr. Pickles. He was just what I needed during one of the darkest seasons in my life.
*Today, he is out at a farm somewhere or adopted as I had to give him up to a group that rehomes cats. You see, Mrs. DM is allergic to cats, and Mr. Pickles was not safe for little kids. It was for the best of all parties that he found another home.
