Cuddles

It's nearly 4:30 a.m. I've been up for about 1/2 hour, had my tea and soaked in a hot bath. Now I have to get going or I'll be late for work. If I leave at just the wrong time, my commute will be a headache. But here comes Kitty... she jumps up on the bed beside me where I'm sitting trying to find my socks. She sings loudly and pushes her forehead up under my chin, standing on my arm. Her claws weave in and out and I feel tiny, little scratches as she moves from beside me onto my lap. I cuddle her to me and she is soft and warm. Her purr is soothing and I wish I could go back to bed...until...ka-thunk, here's Puppy! She's an overstuffed cross between a border collie and an yellow lab. Fifty pounds of 6 year-old canine silliness that cannot stand to be left out of "cuddles" in the morning. She sniffs at Kitty and pushes her nose under my arm. The fur of her back is coarse, but her ears and head are soft. Not fine and silky, like Kitty's, but short and fluffy in a doggy-sort of way. She pushes up against my side, then not content, she drapes herself across my legs. Kitty's had it! She's out of my arms and out of the way. The big dope has taken me over. But Kitty's not done. I feel her paws on my back and before I can stop her, she launches herself onto a perch on my shoulders! OK, Guys, I'm not going to be able to get off to work this way! I scratch ears, stroke heads, hug Puppy, but it's never enough. They'd keep me there all day. I finally have to pry Kitty off my shoulders and order Puppy down. They watch me finish getting dressed, knowing the order of the routine that means that eggie and kibbles are coming...my time. I feed them so that I can spend my quiet time feeding my spirit. Thank You, Father, that you give me a longing for You that is as simple and as persistent as my pets' for their "cuddles". If I miss Your word, my whole day is out of kilter, but this simple breakfast, drinking deeply of Living Water, sustains me as no egg, tea and toast can. Thank you for this time with You, Father. This is where I can curl up and be a little girl again. This is my refuge and my safe place. You stroke my white head as though I were tiny and new, even though this body hasn't been tiny for many, many years. You pull me close and wrap me in the warmth of Your forgiveness and I feel new and strong. Now, You gently set me on my feet to face the day. Your word and Your Spirit will go with me and sustain me. Thank You, Father....