I remember my first meeting with Sapphire like it was yesterday. I had just spent the last three hours wooing and impressing her owner, Tricia, over an extended, first-date meal at Rafferty’s.  Truth be told, I was probably a big dork, but I suppose I was suave enough to deserve an invite back to her place for a viewing of Wild Hogs and my first introduction to Tricia’s fat cat duo:  Toby and Sapphire.

Upon walking into the apartment, I saw both felines give us the “oh, its just you” look, quietly instructing us with their stares to keep the noise down and to stay out of their way.  It was quite clear that they were not excited or shaken by our presence.  This was their home, I quickly realized; the arrogance in their eyes plainly conveying that fact, glaring as if to say, “I see you there and just need to make it very plain that we run this place and you are the guest.”

I figured I would make nice with Toby first.  Aside from his gargantuan size, he looked rather harmless.  So I headed over to where he was laying and extended my hand in a gesture of peace and welcome.  He gave me a cursory sniff, but made no bones about the fact that he wasn’t excited at all about my approach or my condescending pat on the top of his head.  He was done with me before we started.  Classic. This one’s a jerk, I quickly surmised.

And the next thing I knew, Sapphire was on me like a fat kid on a cupcake… 

Purring, rubbing against my leg, arching her back and doing generally everything in the book to show just how much she loved me and my attention, Sapphire was putting on her game face.  And I was sucked-in instantly.  I gave her some good petting while giving Toby my best stink-eye.

“I like this one!  She’s really lovey-dovey.”

“Don’t get used to it.  She does that with everyone when she first meets them.  She’ll go back to her hateful self in not too long,” Tricia quickly informed me.

You obviously don’t know about my ability with animals I proudly thought to myself.  Look at this cat all over me.  She loves me.  I know it.  You know it.  Her and I, we’ll get along just fine.  I don’t know about the other one, though.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

And Tricia couldn’t have been more right.

Before I knew it, the Sapphire that Tricia was accustomed to and had warned me about reared her ugly head and introduced herself to me.  The affectionate cat I met that first night disappeared and was replaced by an angst-filled, temperamental, and solitude animal, interested in one thing and one thing only…herself.  And the truth was, this was her normal way of living until a new person was introduced.  The cat I met that first night was simply a show.  A staged act.  A phony.  Tricia knew all along that the facade would lift and that I would eventually learn the truth about the underlying persona of her baby.

And though I never connected to Sapphire because of this personality conflict, Tricia did.  Through multiple bites, scratches, face slaps, hissing fits, evil-eyes, bowel movements and bladder releases in every place BUT the litter box, Tricia still loved this little creature.  She still held her.  She still loved on her.  She still fed her.  She still gave her treats.  And I just passed it off as some sort of localized insanity.  Some part of her was somehow able to see past all that awefulness and still extend love and care to an animal that neither loved or cared for her.

And I never got it.  For two years, I never saw it.

At least not until a few nights ago.

Long story short, we can’t have pets in the house we rent.  This meant finding homes for the cats after we were married.  We quickly found Toby a home with Tricia’s brother, but didn’t have such luck with finding a good home for Sapphire.  After wearing out her welcome at Tricia’s parents by urinating on everything and leaving little tootsie rolls in the middle of the floor, she was escorted outside the house during the summer.  And while that was fine for the time, winter poses some real problems for animals living outside.  So, in an attempt to be humane, we all decided it was time for Sapphire to be taken to the Humane Society.  At least she’d be warm and have food.  Besides, she truly is a beautiful cat, so she’d probably be picked up in a day or two…and like I said before, she can turn on the charm when she needs to.

So a few days ago, we got everything prepared and Tricia’s mom took Sapphire to the shelter.  I got the call that she was there, safe and warm, and that there were already some comments made about her unique markings and stunning beauty.  Sounded good to me.  Case closed.  Back to whatever I was doing.  I honestly didn’t give it another thought for the rest of the day.  I knew Tricia was a bit upset, but that’s part of doing the right thing sometimes, right?  She wouldn’t miss her that bad, would she?  The cat didn’t even like her…

The day passed and before I knew it, we were settling in for bed.  I got out of the shower and Tricia was already curled up in the bed, so I turned out the light and slid under the sheets.  As I snuggled up behind her, I could tell something was off.  After a minute or two of silence, I felt a small quiver followed by short sniffle, and I knew she was ready to break down.  I gave it another 60 seconds.  A few more quivers, a few more sniffles.

And then dam broke, and she sobbed.

And sobbed.

And sobbed.

And somewhere in between, she managed, “Every time I close my eyes, I keep seeing her in a cage, scared and alone, wondering, ‘Where am I?  Why am I here?’”

And she cried some more.

So I, in my infinite wisdom and logic-ridden mentality, offered, “It’s ok baby.  I mean, she didn’t even really like you.  All she wanted was food and warmth.  You know that’s all she cared about.”

Idiot.

I quickly realized as she continued to weep that I would be best served by keeping my mouth shut and just holding her as she cried.  So that’s what I did.  And as I laid there with her, I was bombarded by this inescapable truth:  It didn’t matter how Sapphire acted or what she did, Tricia loved her.  Period.  And that fact, my friends, holds some staggering ramifications for us all.

How many times have we, as people, defecated in the proverbial floor of God?  He gives wonderful things to us such as homes and cars and friends and spouses and children and we complain about all of them.  We, in our relentless pursuit of more everything, demote His gifts to second-rate hand-me-downs.  We crap on all our provisions as if they are worthless.

How often have we left His love unrequited?  He gave himself completely for us that we may know Him fully and connect with Him in every way, and in response to this display we give him a cursory mention and an hour on Sunday.

How often have we simply turned our back to His request for an intimate relationship?  How quick are we to relegate prayer to the 4th or 5th response to an urgent need?  How many of us, at one time or another, have lived our lives only for ourselves?  How many have wished God would just go away?  Wondered if He exists at all?  Told Him to take His ways and shove em’?

I have.  At different times in my life, I’ve been all these things and more.  Even worse.  Even more hurtful.  And yet, He has always continued to love me.

And He continues to love you.

In the face of every insult, rude word, careless behavior and hateful self-indulgence, God our Father relentlessly continues His love affair with all of us.  Just like Tricia’s uncompromising love for Sapphire reminded me, God deals with all of us spitting in His face continually and still loves us anyway.

That’s crazy if you consider it!  The whole lot of humanity, not worth loving a vast majority of the time, receives not judgement and dismissal, but receives Jesus.  God in the flesh.  The answer to all our needs.  I have to believe that if we could fully grasp the scope of the cross and Jesus rising from the dead, that realization would halt a majority of our delinquent behaviors.  That realization would cause us to change in a beautiful and meaningful way.  That truth is the Gospel, and we have never deserved it.  We will never deserve it.

But to a God full of love and mercy, that doesn’t matter.

And to a man full of selfishness and pride, that sounds like really good news.

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2. God, Adam and Eve :: Why Love and Control Are Not the Same
3. I’ll Take the Hippo, Please! :: Thoughts on Asking and Receiving
4. UK’s Big Letdown :: How Do You Face Adversity?
5. One Coffee Fits All :: How To Find Unity In Diversity