Cats: Love 'em or hate 'em?

Whiskery Wisdom

Cats: most people either hate or love them. The haters contend that felines ruin furniture, kill song birds, and consider people their slaves. The lovers argue that cats control rodents, relieve stress, and cover up their poops.

I find my “spoiled brats in fur suits” brimming with wisdom. Here are some insights I’ve learned from the devilish angels:

• If you fight with the family cats, you won’t have energy left to ward off enemy cats.
• It’s okay to have whiskers and pointy ears.
• Look for a patch of sunshine and stay there.
• Naps are cool.
• Don’t fuss about your food, or the one who feeds you may start buying a cheaper brand.
• Purring will get you everywhere.
• Master the “Shocked and Innocent Look” if someone laughs at you. Better yet, stick your nose in the air and saunter away, pretending you don’t care.
• Naps are fun.
• Act as if you know what you’re doing even if you don’t have a clue.
• Convince those around you how blessed they are to live in the same universe with you.
• Refuse to give up. If one bird escapes, climb another tree.
• Naps are refreshing.

Similar to cats, people are a mix of aggravating and endearing qualities. When I’m tempted to dismiss a brother or sister as too ornery to tolerate, I remember how God bears with my faults and stupid mistakes. Receiving His unconditional love frees me to love myself and others, focusing on positive qualities.  

Now if I could convince my husband to see the good in our kitties…

 The above is an excerpt from my book The Heart of Humor: Sixty Helpings of Hilarity to Nourish Your Soul. 

How do you feel about cats? 

12 Lessons Cats Teach Us

Cartoonist Ron Levellie copyright 2014

Cats: most people either hate or love them. The haters contend that felines ruin furniture, kill songbirds, and consider people their slaves. The lovers argue that cats control rodents, relieve stress, and cover up their poops.

I find my “spoiled brats in fur suits” brimming with wisdom. Here are some insights I’ve learned from the roguish angels:

1. If you fight with the other household cats, you won’t have energy left to ward off enemy cats.
2. It’s okay to have whiskers and pointy ears.
3. Look for a patch of sunshine, and stay there.
4. Naps are cool.
5. Don’t fuss about your food, or the one who feeds you may start buying a cheaper brand.
6. Purring will get you everywhere.
7. Master the “Shocked and Innocent Look” if someone laughs at you. Better yet, stick your nose in the air and saunter away, pretending you don’t care.
8. Naps are fun.
9. Act as if you know what you’re doing even if you don’t have a clue.
10. Convince those around you how blessed they are to live in the same universe with you.
11. Refuse to give up. If one bird escapes, climb another tree.
12. Naps are refreshing.

Similar to cats, people are a mix of aggravating and endearing qualities. When I’m tempted to dismiss a brother or sister as too ornery to tolerate, I remember how God bears with my faults and stupid mistakes. Receiving His unconditional love frees me to love myself and others, focusing on positive qualities. Now if I could only convince my husband to see the good in our kitties . . .

From My Heart to Yours: I believe God gave us pets to help us laugh more. Whether you like dogs in tutus, cats hanging by their claws from tree branches, or pygmy marmosets yodeling to their friends, observing animals is one of the most relaxing, fun activities on earth.

The above is a chapter from my humor/inspirational book, The Heart ofHumor, a compilation of 45 funny stories and 15 articles, lists and links to help you add more laughter to your life. 

Did any of my cats' suggestions for a happier life resonate with you today? 

12 Life Lessons from Cats

Felines: Friends or Foes?

Cats: most people either hate or love them. The haters contend that felines ruin furniture, kill song birds, and consider people their slaves. The lovers argue that cats control rodents, relieve stress, and cover up their own poops.

I find my “spoiled brats in fur suits” brimming with wisdom. Here are some insights I’ve learned from the devilish angels:

1. If you fight with the family cats, you won’t have energy left to ward off enemy cats.
2. It’s okay to have whiskers and pointy ears.
3. Look for a patch of sunshine and stay there.
4. Naps are cool.
5. Don’t fuss about your food, or the one who feeds you may start buying a cheaper brand.
6. Purring will get you everywhere. 

Who, Me?

 

     7. Master the “Shocked and Innocent Look” if someone laughs at you. Better yet, stick your nose in the air and saunter away, pretending you don’t care.

     8. Naps are fun.

     9. Act as if you know what you’re doing even if you don’t have a clue.

    10. Convince those around you how blessed they are to live in the same universe with you.

    11. Refuse to give up. If one bird escapes, climb another tree.

    12. Naps are refreshing.

Angels or Demons?

                Similar to cats, people are a mix of aggravating and endearing qualities. When I’m tempted to dismiss a brother or sister as too ornery to tolerate, I remember how God bears with my faults and stupid mistakes. Receiving His unconditional love frees me to love myself and others, focusing on positive qualities.  

Now if I could convince my husband to see the good in our kitties…

Have you ever owned a cat? If so, do you find them annoying, endearing, or a mixture of both?

The above is an excerpt from my soon-to-be-released book, The Heart of Humor: Sixty Helping of Hilarity to Nourish Your Soul, published by Elk Lake Publishing. Please stop back here for updates on the release date!

 



 

Advice from Princess Di

I call her Princess Di. My splendid agent, Diana Flegal of Hartline Literary Agency, has strengthened me to grow as a writer, a woman of God, a person. She helped me birth my first book, Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top, which released last month. And she's full of wisdom.

In a recent phone conversation where I ranted over a perceived wrong, she spoke soft and warm,
sister-like, "Watch the enemy, Jeanette. He'd like to steal your joy from you in this time you should be celebrating. You want to enjoy the journey. Our flesh says, 'Everything hinges on this first book. But that's not true. We have GOD on our side."

Wow. See why I call her Princess Di? She helps me remember who I belong to, and that with Him, nothing is impossible.

Do you have any princesses or princes in your life? What words of wisdom stand out in your mind that have helped you overcome life's difficulties and Satan's alarms?

Lessons from Fur Children

My youngest, Jolly, helping me write

Do you treat your pets like chilren in fur suits? Me too. Join me for a list of fun things my cats have taught me on The Pastor's Wife Meows, oops, I mean, Speaks.