Baxter has taken on a new routine. In the morning, after he has had breakfast, a few drinks at the spigot, and some litter box relief, he usually is planning on his nap. However, recently Baxter has added one more stop on his way to drifting off to sleep. He jumps on my lap, purring his heart out, and he wants to be petted and rest for a few minutes before going to his bed. At first, I couldn’t figure out the reason for this detour onto me. He used to just ignore me after his morning routine until he wanted something else to eat or drink. What’s with the cuddles, up close and personal? I came to figure it out.
Blessed assurance! Baxter needed a pat on the head, a rub under the chin and some quiet lap time to relax before he went to sleep. In his later years, he needs to know that we are ok, that I am there to take care of him and that he won’t be left alone to fend for himself. Baxter needs a boost in our trust so that he’s selfconfident as a cat again.
We are often in the same situation. Things change in us, around us, and among us, and we need to know where we stand with each other. We may not be able to do what we once were capable of doing. We may have a different schedule with more demands on our time. We may be physically weaker or emotionally distraught or both. We may have different demands placed on us at work or at home, and we are unsure of ourselves with these responsibilities. Whatever the reason, we need some reassurance that the anchors in our lives remain secure while other things may be changing.
God is our first anchor. When things get rocky, go to Him in prayer and worship. Listen to His divine message of faithful love and unending grace to face whatever life brings. Allow God in on your anxieties, lack of confidence, mistakes and failures, and He will place these into perspective. We are not alone. God walks with us through life’s changes to bolster our selfconfidence and show us how to persevere. Look for Him in the new circumstances we all face from time to time.
Those persons who love us are our second anchor. When circumstances change and challenge us, true love rises to the occasion with help and support, with encouragement and patience, with loyalty and sacrifices. With God as our shared foundation, we stand together through tough times. Sometimes we share the burdens; sometimes we challenge each other to rise to the new occasion and meet its demands. In all of this, we become the face of Jesus for each other, a sign that the first anchor is real and there for us all.
Baxter isn’t bashful about what he needs to carry on. We shouldn’t be either.
-Monsignor Statnick
