We have been “adopted” by a feral cat. It just started showing up on the front deck. One weekend morning after breakfast alfresco, my Honey suggested we just leave the leftover food for the cat. It was a very skittish dark brown and gold with touch of white Calico cat, rather small…maybe an adolescent or just small cat, we couldn’t tell. We were not allowed close enough to get a really good look. Any movement by the front door sent it scurrying back under the deck and into safe refuge under our house. It took all day but that evening the little tri-colored kitty was on the picnic table having dinner from our breakfast. We felt pretty good about that.
I started leaving bits of puppy food for the kitty on a daily basis; then just broke down and bought cat food. We added a water bowl after seeing the cat drinking rain water from a container in the back yard. If it had decided to hang around the least we could do was provide clean water. The cat came to us, we just provided the necessities.
We needed to call the cat by something other than ‘kitty’ so I decided on Jack, I don’t know why; it just popped in my head. So when I saw the cat on the deck I would get as close to the screen door as I could and say, “Hi, Jack” My Honey thought I was saying Hijack; so we ran with that name. Slowly over time Hijack has gotten used to us. I talk to it from behind the safety of the front door and it stopped running away. Eventually, it started staying on the deck while I put its food out….on the far side, of course, but progress was being made. Now I can sit on the swing and visit with Hijack and a mere 3-4’ distance is all that is needed for comfort.
One day it became clear….Hijack was pregnant. Surprise! My Honey asked if I had prayed for a pregnant cat…I firmly believe it was him, he’s a sucker for the kitties! Outdoor cats are good when you live in the country; they help keep away mice and snakes. So, we are not so opposed to Hijack raising her brood under our house. She has a job as Rodent/Reptile Sheriff, now. Any day she will give birth to her babies under the house. Honey and I sit completely still and listen for the tiny voices of kittens when we do not see much of her.
Our relationship building with Hijack is not so different than ‘feral’ people with God. They gladly eat from the table He lays out before them. God provides all the needs but many people dash for cover if they think they may have to get close to Him. It has taken time to build a little trust with Hijack so she does not feel threatened by us and for her to know she can depend on our provisions. God continues to provide and offer His love and mercy, too.
‘Feral cat’ simply means a domesticated cat (or their offspring) that has grown wild, sometimes without the touch and interaction with people. ‘Feral people’ may have come from a home of godly people, maybe not; but have lived a life away from God and His love. Their hearts may have grown wild from lack of trust-worthy people showing them love; they come to trust no one. It is not always easy to tell by sight that they may have a feral heart but just try to get close and they bolt every time. Sharing God’s love needs to be like that cool drink of refreshing water. It is there for the taking like the water we leave available for Hijack. If we get pushy or overbearing we may lose the opportunity to reach out to that person again.
You know, it is amazing how much we have come to care about Hijack. We have never even touched her but we love her and want to make sure her needs are met. God cares far more for us and all those feral hearts out there than we even can care for another. We will not give up on Hijack, nor will God give up on His people. Let’s “adopt” a determination to keep feral hearts in prayer. Patient love and prayer works wonders! God will do all the rest.
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