A stray cat and a scarlet letter
When I lived in Nashville in the late nineties, I was a frequent shopper, so to speak, at the Humane Society. I would stop by a couple times a week and donate supplies, take a look at all the pets, and check on which ones had been adopted. Every now and then if there was a particularly challenged animal, malnourished or with a coat in a bad way, I would take it home and nurse it until it became more adoptable.
There was one cat, Max, that especially drew my attention. One cold night, Max had crawled under the hood of a car and onto the still-warm engine. When the owner of the car started up the engine the next morning, he heard the loud cry as Max’s back received an awful wound, about six inches long. The owner of the car was kind enough to bring Max to the shelter and the vet did what he could, but Max was a sorry sight. He had no fur left on his back and the fur he did have on the rest of his body was odd to say the least.
“What breed of cat is Max?” I asked one day.
“I don’t think Max has any particularly dominating breed,” the girl cleaning out the cages said. “I’m not sure how we’ll ever get him adopted. He’s a bit of everything!”
I took Max home that day.
He was one of the sweetest animals I have ever had the joy of loving. It seemed to me that his devotion came from someone seeing beyond his wounds to his wonderful heart.
Perhaps that is what is most striking about Christ’s encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well: He saw beyond her culture, her gender and her string of broken relationships that she wore like a scarlet letter. He saw a woman who was worth dying for and that would bind her heart to His, all her heart, and she would never forget that.
If you have ever felt like a stray or one who wears a scarlet letter, don’t be surprised when God’s love takes you in
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing
Thanks Makeda x
thanks from a stray with a scarlet streak
I think at heart we are all strays with a scarlet streak
what happens when He took you in & yet you've managed to screw it up over & over (been saved since I'm 19)…just haven't been able to get it right…I feel like Gomer…I've betrayed Him again & again (sometimes too ashamed to ask forgiveness again)…I miss Him…so glad you took in Max…he has a special place in Heaven…
As do you Catherine. Christianity is not about us getting it right, it's about what Jesus has already done to make it right. If you miss him, trust me it's not a shadow of how much he misses you
Dear Catherine, I just want you to know that God loves you sooo much he will never let you go. You can go to the ends of the earth, but he will be there, if and when you call. Remember the Prodigal son…there were no recriminations, no accusations, no vengence: the father simply loved him and hugged him and took him in and celebrated. God will do that for you: how mighty is that? And he will forgive you not once, not twice, not seven times, but seventy-times seven. He will forgive you eternally, infinitely and never count the cost. You are a child of God, Catherine and his arms are there for you always. Take care of yourself and rest in his love. xxoo
I LOVE that u took Max home to LOVE:)
I LOVE the Samaritan woman at the well; SOOO relevant today. In fact, today’s story of the stoning of a woman reminds us of another poignant story involving Jesus.
He was one of the sweetest pets I ever had, so loving. Christ's outrageous compassion to women broke with all accepted behaviors of his day-still does:)
I love this story. It’s called compassion.
I relate to that kitty. I feel like there is something that keeps friends at bay. I’m just hurting, it will get better…
I did the same for many years Laura until i gradually began to ask God to help me take the wall down one brick at a time
Thank you, Sheila. I know in my heart that is good news. From past experience and just reading His word, I know He will answer that prayer. I am discouraged, but it can't last forever, right?
PS. I like your prayer, God, help me take the wall down one brick at a time….
That is bathed in grace. I love that about you, and I will be praying for God's gentle healing.
My dear Laura, God's healing isn't always "gentle" so don't miss it. Allow your heart to be listening through all events. God's healing is customized and "one size does not fit all." In Jesus ~ Mary in Idaho
Iam that cat & have been the woman @ the well. But God is so awesome to look @ me & see through His eye’s of Love. Only he does that for all who want & cry out to him. He is the changer for my life!
Mine too Renee
I have been both the cat and the women at the well. But praise God His love and mercy is greater. As the song says, " He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs."
What a gift Camille!
This is perfect. Perfect timing. Thank you for sharing this!!
Beautiful Sheila. And you know what amazes me is that even if my wounds are my fault- God still reaches out to me with His love and forgiveness and nurses me back to health. And just like your Max, God can grow in us a truly devoted heart that can love others, because we have been the recipient ourselves of such a Great love!
i know, i love that!!
Love this, Sheila.
Thanks Lindsey:)
I know all this in my head, but why doesn’t the fact that God’s Grace is new every day take hold in my heart? I love this post, the story of the woman, the story of Max.
I think that's the hardest thing to hold on to day by day Patti-life intrudes but the truth remains, as you are right now you are loved by God
This illustration really brought Gods compassion to life for me. Very timy in consideration of what my husband & I are going through. Sometimes we forget that God can “rescue” us. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for this lesson. Sometimes God knows exactly what we need to hear and uses random people to show us his grace and love.
Thank you
Brought tears to my eyes! I’ve felt like a stray for far too long but I now know the tender love of a Father who loves the unlovely and has made me His own. I love belonging to my Lord!
Me too Leslie!
God used a stray, suspicious wolfdog to teach me to embrace my identity in Christ. I traced "Bo's" origins to Never Cry Wolf Rescue in Sacramento–he had no home, but, for some inexplicable reason, had chosen us. As we tried to convince him he was safe with us, it was obvious he allowed his past to define his now. His past also defined those around him now. Would they abuse him? Abandon him? We made him a member of our family with all the privileges "therein"
! Similarly, God has adopted me in his family with privileges and identity. Do I distrust his provision? Do I embrace it, believing it to be so? Do I resist his overtures of love because of my past? We wanted Bo to rest in our love. My wonderful God wants the same for me and all the more. His love is holy and pure and perfect. Thank you, Sheila, for giving me cause to remember this lesson. Bo died 3 years ago and he did much to teach us about God. His memorial video is here if anyone is interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s178EdeIP-k
gosh Heidi, what a beautiful story-thanks!
What a beautiful illustration/word picture of God's looking at our heart when man (self included) looks on our outside.
Thanks Mary, so true. I love that when God looks at us, he sees his son and he sees us washed, forgiven and loved
I have always felt like a stray and was the woman with the scarlet letter. I am so thankful for God's love. He is refining me and working on me so that I am not either of these. Thank you so much for this reminder.