This is a photo of our cat Jack Frost and the children. If you are wondering, Jack has white toes, as in "Jack Frost nipping at your toes." He loves water.
A recent adventure with Jack brought about the topic of this post. So, have you ever heard the expression, "Give it to God?" This is in reference to giving our worries and problems to God. I have always thought this is right on, but I often have trouble "giving God" my worries.
Well, when Jack got sick this week, I had a chance to get some clarity on this. He actually had a heat stroke. (I just realized that is kind of funny, with his name and all.) I took him to our local vet, and they treated him. His temperature came down to normal, and he was able to come home when the vet closed for the day. However, when I got him back home, he still looked very ill and wouldnt eat or drink. I took his temperature (you can find directions on how to take a cat's temperature on "e-how." We ARE getting a new thermometer for the family now)-- but anyway I took his temperature and it had shot up again. I would have liked to take him to the emergency vet, but I also did not feel right spending the extra money on it. I decided to monitor him and try to wait until morning. After makeing that decision, I kept second guessing myself and worrying about Jack. Finally it was as if God told me "Look, you just make the best decision you can, and stop worrying about it. I am the one who makes perfect decisions, you cannot do that. So let go of it and get some rest. I'm handling this."
After that, I knew it was OK to stop worrying, but I was still having trouble stopping. Then I invented a very helpful mental image. It was inspired by the shop vac we have borrowed from my parents. I love it -- I feel like I can vaccum up anything with it. So I imagined a big shop vac in heaven with the hose reacing down from the sky. It reaches down close enough that I can hold my worries up to the nozzle and it sucks them up. In a flash. I gave it to God. It is very satisfying, albeit primitive, and it actually helps me stop worrying. I have been doing that to needless fears and worries when I detect them. As a mom, I have plenty of opportunities to worry. But the shop vac is helping.
Oh, and to follow up on Jack Frost: his temperature dropped in the night and now he is fine and spunky again. I never even took him back to the vet.
