Bathing the Cat, in love.

This actually happened a while ago, but I was thinking about it and don't think I actually blogged about it. So if it sounds familiar...pass me on. Late in the summer I was suffering in a terrible way with my asthma. Couldn't breath, just wanted to lay down...you know. I was so frustrated I tore up the living room vacuumed, sprayed, vaccuumed, pulled apart furniture, everything. Then one day, sitting in a living room pronounced "clean", I spied Seamus (shaymus) the "fat cat". He is really hairy and I had threatened Sam that one day he would come home and Seamus would be shaved! As I looked at him and he at me, my breathing became labored, its all his fault I reasoned...So I snagged him. Sam was all "what is going on", "I'm bathing the cat!" He laughed! I ran with Shay to the bathroom threw him in the shower and turned it on, ready to bath him as I do Heidi. Once I got the water on he was in such a daze that he just stood there. I thought, mmmm can't really get to him here I'd better get in the shower too. (NOTE: here is my mistake...) So I strip off my clothes and jump in. Meanwhile Sam has told Cody that I am "bathing the cat" so they creep into my room to listen to the maylay. I grabbed the removable shower head, like I do for Heidi and hosed the sucker down, afterall he is a fat cat what is he gonna do---roll over (Those who know Seamus, know he is lazy and would as soon you step on him than have to wake up and move). So I proceed to hose him down and of course his hair slicks back...I expect to see a fat cat or maybe a skinny one if he is indeed all hair. What stood before me was a sleek, black PANTHER! I yelped, the boys are laughing, I am yelling at them that a panther is in the shower with me, he is all muscle and I am scared. I corner him (tubs really don't have corners, have you noticed?) and throw some cat shampoo on him. No, not gonna (is literally what he said) he looks up at the glass door, crouches that panther like body and leaps, ladies and gentlemen for the TOP OF THE DOORS (about 5 feet), misses and slides down the glass, catching is front paws on the doors handle and is swingling literally 3 feet from the ground (my waist) by his claws screaming. At this point I hear roaring from the bedroom ( I think Cody and Sam are on the ground rolling by now). Of course their perspective would probably more entertaining because I don't know what I said. So I pull him off (claws out) hold him to me and hose him down. Then I pronouced him "clean enough". Grabbed the towel and bundled him up then threw him out. The boys were howling as he flew out the door. I stayed and had a nice warm relaxing shower, picking of wet cat hair from my stomach.
It makes me think of how badly God wants to bathe us in his love, but we run screaming. It might hurt, I might have to learn something, but what if it messes up my hair. We think we are a stealthy black panther who can run from God or jump higher than where God can reach. But no, he is the author and creator and he just wants to love us. I have to say, since I have given everything (almost literally, and literally soon) to God and let him love me in it. I don't care if my hair is messed up. I don't care if you want my sofa, come get it. I don't care if it hurts a little because God loves me and letting him love me is teaching me, molding me and making me a better, "cleaner" cat.
1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!