A couple of weeks ago we were on the verge of losing our third pet since we moved here from Iowa. Rusty was found on New Year's Day 2007 wrapped around by barbed wire and hanging between two fence posts on a country road. Joan saved him on that cold Iowa day, not without some injury to her self I might add. Rusty then had about two months of convalesence at a friend's house before we added him to our family.
Rusty was the adventurer of the three pets. He loves to chase measuring tapes and has a number of plastic balls with bells in them that he bats around. He accidently chased one into the pool the other day and got his first California bath (he hasn't done that again, I don't think he enjoyed it much).
Rusty has also made friends with all the neighbors and found the catnip in the adjacent yards. The neighbors no longer call us to let us know Rusty is around because they know by now he is just visiting.
It was about ten days ago that Joan noticed Rusty was just sleeping through the day instead of roaming and that he had a fever. A visit to the vet revealed a very sick cat and the need for an antibotic. The antibotic prescribed did not settle well in his stomach so I was back with the vet the next day as well. His tempature had risen another two degrees and we were looking at our third and final pet being laid to rest in California.
I took home an IV bag, with extre needles and the opportunity to try out my quick course in IV insertion for the next five days. We received three more medications, antibotics, food eating stimulant, and an anti-inflamatory medicine. The first couple days Rusty seemed stable, but on the third day he finally started eating. Two days later he was trotting around the house looking for mischief. Now he is as if it had never happened.
It is amazing in one week Rusty moved from being on his death bed to running around as if nothing had happened. Some assistance from the vet (and I have to admit I did pray for Rusty) and the healing function God gave cats bought Rusty back as if nothing was different. Yet I am amazed and thankful that God can heal not only cats but us as well even when things look completely done in.
How often do we thank God for his care for us? I know I tend to take life for granted until I am confronted with sickness in myself or others. It is those times when we experience ill health that we turn to God for healing and consolation. Suren't we be looking to God daily? Suren't we be living our life to the fullness and living our calling with gratitude to the one who made us?
I am thankful not only for my health but that of others I love. I hope you are thankful too.
Peace, Pastor Randy
