Mercy The Queen and Our Three Cats

Tabby Boy, Jellicle and Alaska having their meals

One of our three dogs, Mercy, has a possessive habit. The moment she has a bone in front of her, she will frighten Goodness and Danny away with her growl. After all, she is the queen or in Caesar Milan's words, "Leader of the Pack". From time to time, she charges and threatens the cats.

This morning, all three cats needed to come in for their meals. Mercy had her bone right at the front entrance. None of the cats dared to come in because her non-verbal was really dominant. Mercy had lowered her head and staring at the the three felines from the corners of her eyes. However, hunger beckoned and our fattest cat, Tabby Boy, who is the greediest of the three, tried to make a dash into the house. Mercy charged at him. Tabby Boy retreated with paws armed with claws.

Like a flash, I was in between the two animals and commanding Mercy to back off. Mercy might be the leader of the pack but I am the "Master of All".  Immediately, Mercy retreated and bowed down. I held my ground in between the 'gap' to keep the peace. All the cats then paraded boldly pass Mercy without any fear and went for their food.

As I was reflecting upon my action and those of the cats, I saw a spiritual comparison. We have the Lord. Every time, the devil tries to intimidate us, we cannot fight him with our own strength or authority. We may produce our 'claws' but they are quite limited in resisting the attack of the devil. We just have to back down and allow the Lord to step in. When Jesus is standing in between the 'gap', we can pass by safely. Jesus is indeed the Master of all!

Ugly the Tomcat

Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love.


The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner.


Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, striped type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, and even his shoulders.


Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!"


All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, and squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always had the same reaction.


If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around your feet in forgiveness.


Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love.


If you ever picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever he could find.


One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbor's dogs. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end.


As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. It must be hurting him terribly, I thought.


Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring.


Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion.


At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.


Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly.


Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful.


He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my total to those I cared for.


Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me. . . I will always try to be Ugly.


Author Unknown

Cleaning Poo Poo and Other Chores

Danny the New Puppy

This morning, my neighbour, Mrs. Wong asked how many times a day I wash the porch. Mmmm... I wash as often as the dogs poo. Since Mrs. Wong's question at 7 AM, I had washed the porch four times and it is not yet noon.

Cleaning dogs' poo poo is my job. Now with a new addition, the front porch is getting really messy. Apart from Goodness and Mercy, we now have an active Danny. This puppy is the one that Grace rescued about two months ago, on a rainy evening. Both its legs were broken. After being treated by Grace's sister, Dr. Pam, Danny is now staying with us while waiting to be adopted. 

Apart from cleaning poo poo, I had also mopped the house and fed three dogs, two cats and a solitary fish. I had also washed Danny's cage and rearranged the bookshelves. Working from home is really 'working'.

How many office workers are required to mop their office or clean pets' poo poo? And my dear wife still wonders what I do at home. Maybe I should just forget about the home office and go to my official office at Subang 2. At least there is a tea lady serving me freshly brewed coffee and also cleaning my office every day.

With three incomplete books, a couple of seminar notes and sermons to finish, I consider myself to be a very busy man. However, with a little careful planning, I can pace my works and still have time to accompany my sweetheart to shop and catch a movie. That is if I am not conducting Elijah Challenge Healing Trainings or Church Growth Seminars overseas or in other parts of Malaysia.

Grace often comes with me on such trips but her leaves have quickly been depleted. Soon, I will have to make mission trips without her... unless, she leaves her job and starts a business. Not too sure if that is a good idea but at least this serves as an option. Meanwhile, she has to keep her job as the Editor of 'Health Today'. Without her income, I will have no health today... I will most probably be malnourished or worse... dead.

The love offerings that I receive for my sermons and seminars are obviously not enough to take care of all our expenses. I have a joke about love offerings - there is always more love than offerings. However, to prevent any misunderstanding, I must say that this musing is not written with the intention of receiving more financial donations. Not at all... for God provides all our needs and we are thankful.

Three years ago, when my income dried up, the Lord opened the door for Grace to work as an Editor. She got the job without showing a single page of resume or any documents to the employer. Grace is a nutritionist by training and at that time, was only a part-time writer. She was never an editor but when God opened the door, no one could shut it. Today, under her editorship, the magazine has improved its circulation and readerships. As you can tell, I am very proud of my wife.

Apart from that, I must say that nothing can express my gratitude to my loving God.  He does work in mysterious ways and often in our day-to-day experiences. He never leaves us alone but weaves his plans into our insufficient ones. When one door closes He opens another one. The One who opened the Red Sea is the One who takes care of us now. We are blessed and forever grateful.