The World According to Chowder

My hope is to give pictures of homeschooling and families and life in this blog. Today, I would like to share a picture of what goes on inside my cat’s head. (Being a counselor by trade, you see, I even deeply understand critters’ thought processes:) Anyway, Chowder the cat gave me a good metaphor for my own spiritual walk, I think.

The World According to Chowder

I am a beautiful, gray kitty. I live a happy and fulfilling life with the Tillmans. Listen to my story:

My purpose in life is to be loved. I have discovered many ways to help my family love me.

One way is to be fed. I ask them several times each day that I be fed. I have a special thing that I say to them about food. I want the food with gravy. They do not always give me food with gravy, but I trust them about this and eat what I have gratefully (after a while).

One way my family loves me is playing “strings” with me. I have a purple string that I like best. When I ask the string request, they say a special word, “Oh, alright,” and I know that my “prayer” has been answered and someone will stand up and help me chase the string. This makes glad me because it is fun for me, but I know by their laughter that I am giving my family pleasure.

One way I am loved is to be comforted. This request does not need words, I just find a lap or look up into someone’s face. Then I am cuddled and petted and my people say special things to me that let me know that they are happy that I live with them and they want me to feel happy.

There is something I don’t understand. Sometimes, these people that I love so much do some things that seem cruel to me. Every once in a while, someone puts me in a crate and closes the door. When that happens, I know bad things are about to start. There is a noisy ride, then a strange room full of dogs, then a man I do not know holds me tight and pokes sharp things into me. It hurts. My person stands right there watching, approving. She just says, “It’s alright, Chowder, it’s just a shot. It will keep you well.” I do not understand her words. I do not understand how someone who loves me could do something that causes me pain.

Finally, my person takes me home. I am so upset that I hide until I sleep. Later I am hungry, so I wake up and try to trust my people despite it all. I must forgive them, I do not understand what they did but I decide to love them still. So I start all over- I “pray” for a snack.

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