The Reason She Cried

What was it about getting a doll house, that made a 43 year old woman cry?  Was it because she had always dreamed of one?  Was it because it was the exact replica of her "real" house?  Yes...and no. 

The doll house

 The "real" house

I am that 43 year old woman, and yes I cried when my father-in-law, Tooger,  presented me this doll house. 

If you read my former post, you know that my mother-in-law recently passed away.  During a family dinner, the night before her service, we were looking through the family albums.  I came across a photo of my husband, as a young boy, playing with a large doll house.  I learned that Tooger had built it.  I said how jealous I was, because I had always wanted a doll house like that.  Someone may have made a comment about building one like our current house, but it was quickly dropped and I didn't think anymore about it.  Until it showed up in my loft!

I was touched so deeply because I felt seen and heard.  He heard my heart and put in the effort to build it for me.

It wasn't just about a doll house, but the need we all have; a deep longing to be known and loved; worthy of someone's effort.  While my Father-"in-love" showed me a tangible example of this, it is God who ultimately satisfies our deepest longing.

God is the one who knows us completely:
O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
² You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
³ You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
⁴ Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O Lord, You know it all. ¹³ For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:1-4, 13

God is the one who loves us perfectly :
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.  1 John 3:1

God is the one who decided we were worth the effort:
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8  ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

Praise be to God!

Will My kitten Go To Heaven?

Will my kitten go to heaven?  I don't know.  What I do know is...heaven came down through my kitten.  What?!

Let me back up a bit and explain what I mean.  My husband, Michael, and I are not pet people.  He is allergic, I am a cleany, and it isn't practical, for as much traveling as we like to do.  However, around September 12, 2016 a tiny, lost, black and white kitten showed up on our doorstep.  She was so sweet and hungry.  So, we fed her, tamed her, and built her a house.  We were instantly smitten and decided to keep her (outside of course). 

Upon taking her to the vet, we learned a kitten matching her description had been lost from there.  How she traveled from town out to our house in the country was a mystery.  My heart sank thinking I would have to return her.  The owner, however, was happy to find her a new home.

On Spetember 17th, our world was rocked with the sudden death of Michael's mother; my mother-in-love.  To be honest, I am still trying to adjust to this new reality.  She is with Jesus, so we rejoice for her, but grieve the fellowship we have lost for now.

During that first week, our mystery kitten was a great comfort.  We even started letting her come in and sleep on a special blanket in the evenings.

It was one of those evenings, while she was sprawled out on my lap, that I noticed the shape of the white marking on her chest...a heart! 

I believe God is in the details and cares greatly for us.  I believe He sent this kitten.  The love of the Trinity, sent down from heaven, in the form a kitten bearing the mark of love, to comfort us in our time of need.