Universal Truth Strikes Again

I learned a hard lesson week. It might be more accurate to say I was reminded of a lesson I learned in church many years ago. This happens to me from time to time. It's not often, but every once in awhile I have a life experience that just punches me in the face with a universal truth that I've been ignoring for too long. 

My husband and I chose to return our two healthy cats to the shelter after having them for 7 and 9 years. I know if I were on the outside looking in, I would judge this action so very, very harshly.  I would rant about how animals are a part of the family and that abandoning them is like abandoning a child. I'd pull out stats about how 4 in 5 shelter cats are euthanized. I'd go on and on about what kind of horrible person can just throw an animal away like that.  

To be honest, even as I sat in the shelter with MAX! and Oscar stacked in their cat carriers beside me, I found myself judging the people around me. I had no empathy for the circumstances that led to their decision. I saw them as lazy, cold-hearted or irresponsible and found it difficult to feel any compassion for the heartbreaking experience they were probably having at that moment. 

I'm certain we did the right thing and that there was no other viable option. I'm not ashamed, but I also know I will be judged for the choice I've made. That's where the lesson lies.

I'm an incredibly self-centered and judgmental person. I look down my nose at the exhausted parents in the booth behind me who are just trying to have a nice dinner out. I roll my eyes at the couponer in front of me at the checkout who might really need that extra 30 cents off.  I whisper snide remarks about too much makeup, too-tight clothes or a sloppy appearance when I myself am close to 100 pounds overweight. 

There are a lot of things I need to work on.  Empathy for the human beings I encounter in my day to day life is one of them. 

Matthew 7: 1-3

Oscar the Friendly Grouch

MAX!
His official  name is capitalized
and ends in an exclamation point.  

Side note: I'm not going to discuss the circumstances that led to our decision to take the cats to the shelter.  I loved those little critters and I did what I felt was in their best interest. 

If you care about the health and well-being of displaced or unwanted cats, please consider donating to the Arizona Humane Society or Halo Animal Rescue.