I saw the cat this afternoon. It was sitting in the back yard, pretty far into our property when it heard the sound of the lawn tractor I was driving. The cat was fat and white with a black tail.

As I drove near, the cat scampered away from me and my noisy tractor and headed back into the edge of the woods. It looked at me and I wondered if a cat could think that the trees and bushes provided a good hiding place. But a white cat in the middle of the browns and greens of fall vegetation is easy to see. I stopped and watched it to see if the cat appeared to be hungry or needy. But It looked plump and well cared for. In a few minutes, the cat stood and moved toward the fence line, disappearing in the brush

In just those few minutes, I made so many assumptions about this animal – all based on its location, appearance and actions. My mind didn’t lose any time in developing a profile using only a very facts and a whole set of assumptions.

We do that with people we just meet and with those we have known for years.

• I offered the cat neither food nor shelter based on my assumptions. I too often assume that someone can afford a meal at a restaurant or that the clothes they wear mean something about the job they have (or don’t have).
• I figured the cat already had a home and “people” because it barely even noticed me. And, I assume that people already know of God’s love and that there are good people in their life when it may be that they are very much alone.
• The cat left; I must have done something wrong. When, indeed, the cat’s response had absolutely nothing to do with me. “Yes, Jill” (I often tell myself), “their actions or words may have nothing to do with who or what you are.”

You would think that I should know better and you would be right!

Last night I received a call that a friend of over 40 years is in her last days. I wasn’t surprised; she is an older lady who has been very sick. She moved away several years ago to be close to family and we haven’t seen each other since she moved. She is a follower of Jesus and I have no doubt that we will meet again in Heaven one day. But today’s news is sad. I sent out an email to our church asking for prayer for her and her family.

I know of a dear friend of this woman. This friend is also older and she lives alone. She doesn’t communicate by email or text; I knew that I needed to call her to let her know about the situation.

I have known both women and I was pretty sure of how my phone call to share this very hard news would go. But my friend’s response was nothing like I expected. She was very sad at the news, but for her the situation put into context the weariness she had been noticing during recent conversations and it explained why phone calls made this past week had not been answered or returned,

Again, my assumptions were wrong

To be honest, I get it wrong a good part of the time. I’m trying to do better. I work at reining in my habit of guessing. And I am getting better at waiting for a response rather than trying to predict it.

This Christmas season is going to show us all that our assumptions are often wrong.

• The “perfect gift” that we took so long to find will be put aside too quickly.
• The face that we see as stern and judgmental will have shining eyes, filled with tears.
• The delicious desserts WILL have calories and the scales WILL refuse to fulfill our wish.

So, let’s start now preparing ourselves. We should strive to cast our assumptions to the side and treat reactions as gifts. We can relax, not caring about the “why” and learning to appreciate the “now.”

It’s true – we may never know why the cat was in the backyard.

Love,

Jill (just one of God’s kids)

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34)