Daily Wisdom 02-04-2005 King Sammy the First

It's amazing to me how highly cats think of themselves;ours in particular. Sammy thinks the only reason there are people in his house is so that someone has to put food in his dish. If he had opposable thumbs I'm sure he would see no need for humans at all.

I think he's also fully convinced himself that he's the ruler and protector of his home. He's constantly patrolling for intruders. No-sir-ee, no ladybug is safe when Sammy's on the prowl. We'll never have to worry about being attacked by vicious stray pieces of string or those ferocious wads of paper either. He has crowned himself king of our (his) domain and he takes his role seriously. It bugs me that he so often rules his subjects from my best chair, otherwise known as "King Sammy's throne." Sammy views himself so highly that he'll never have to worry with self-value issues.

Actually, there are times when we could take a lesson or two from Sammy. Not that we should set ourselves up as royalty or anything, but it's good to remember how highly we're valued- not highly valued in our own eyes, but valued by our God. When the Creator of the universe values you, that gives you true, undeniable, undebatable worth.

Have you thought about how much He values you lately? I hope John 3:16 never becomes so familiar to us that we miss the clearly staggering fact that God the Father valued us so highly, loved us so much, that Hw sacrificed His Son for a relationship with us. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV)

What a love! Because of the gift of Christ, we can know without the tiniest doubt that all human life is valuable to our Heavenly Father. Before birth He knows us and loves us. He even thoughtfully and lovingly drew up the blueprints for each of us. No one knows us, loves us, or thinks about every life like our Father does.

Psalm 139:13-17 says, "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous- and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book! How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly!" (TLB)

Our God is so extraordinary! He is ever-thinking of every life He has ever created. That makes each life extraordinary. Believe it!

As for Sammy, we mostly just let him believe he's king. Nevermind that some people might refer to him as an oversized, vibrating lap-mushroom. I guess he's the royal kind of fungus in this particular kingdom. Long may he reign.

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Contributed by Rhonda Rhearrhea@juno.com
Rhonda Rhea writes for dozens of Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. You can find her newest books, Soup for the Soul--Tastes Just Like Chicken, and Amusing Grace, at your local Christian bookstore. Who Put the Cat in the Fridge--Serving Up Hope and Hilarity Family Style will be available in March. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is a pastor in Troy, Missouri. You can reach them through herWeb site