...and apparently so does C.S. Lewis and Elisabeth Eliot (since she quoted him.) This is why I wasn't coming to Peru without the dog and cat. See, it's legit.
C. S. Lewis had some lovely things to say about animals in his Letters to an American Lady. "I will never laugh at anyone for grieving over a loved beast. I think God wants us to love Him more, not to love creatures (even animals) less. No person, animal, flower, or even pebble, has ever been loved too much--i.e., more than every one of God's works deserves."
A woman I know found her teen-age daughter lying on the living room rug one evening, sobbing into the curly fur of their cocker spaniel. The mother had on many occasions wondered if the dog was worth all the fuss and trouble of training, feeding, cleaning fur off the rugs and furniture. She stopped wondering when she saw that the dog was a refuge and a friend to the child when she would have found it impossible to cry on anyone's shoulder. The mother made up her mind then and there that as long as she had children, at least, she would have a dog. (She has since decided that even she needs him.)
(cat-therapy, dog-therapy - whatever you need in the moment)
In another letter [Lewis] wrote, "We were talking about cats and dogs the other day and decided that both have consciences but the dog, being an honest, humble person, always has a bad one, but the cat is a Pharisee and always has a good one. When he sits and stares you out of countenance he is thanking God that he is not as these dogs, or these humans, or even as these other cats!"
Funny. And very true.
4 comments:
Are you in cahoots with Peggy??? Said with one eyebrow raised...well it would be said that way if I could raise just one eyebrow.
That's hilarious. I especially like the "Pharisee" remark. I think that will be my new derogatory name for cats. Alyosha was cool enough, I confess. Still, it's hard for me to like Pharisees, especially when they make me sneeze alot.
Speaking of your cat and places where it made me sneeze...I had some wine with a little Law & Order the other day and thought of the Fergusons. We can't wait to see you soon!
The new picture on the top of the blog is great. We miss all the kids. Let 'em know we say so.
Hmmm...this is a timely blog post for me to read; everyday I wish and wish that Calvin would decide to pack up and go find his doggy family, but he stays...along with all the hair, dirt, (occasional) vomit, and wild attacks of love at our friends.
I just have to remember that Isaac is going to love him one day, and that makes all the difference.
I love these quotes and stole the cat one off of you.....
(i also found your site through RUF life)
EA
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