Calming and Welcoming

        

        Is that Landee, our neighbor, worshiping with a kitten? Her mother, the photographer, explained their family arrived at church. When the car motor was shut off, a kitten's meow was heard under the hood. Landee found the frightened kitten but it was so terrified it ran under the car. 

        Eventually, The Kitten Whisperer, as my sister dubbed Landee, calmed the quivery, little ball of fur. Her pastor was surprised but seemingly, the tiny feline didn't disturb the worship of the Lord.

        Just as Jesus found the lost sheep, Landee rescued the misplaced kitten. In Luke 15:5, the parable of the lost sheep is recorded. Jesus told of the joyful shepherd placing the lost sheep on his shoulders as soon as it was found.

        Close contact provided security to the fearful sheep and kitten. In assuring the Israelites of the need to not fear, Moses recalled God's care of them in Deuteronomy 1:31: In the wilderness...the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son...

        As the Lord calms and comfort us, may we comfort others. We can live out our faith as we comfort others by following these words written by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

        This week comfort someone with the comfort the Lord has shown to you. Landee comforted the kitten; the good shepherd transported joyfully the wayward, but recently found sheep; and God carried the Israelites like a father carries his son. Modeling God, the good shepherd, and Landee may we express empathy, comfort, and the assurance of the love of the Lord to whomever God brings along your way.