A lesson learned from my second wife
Rev. Walter Klockers
It is not widely known but I actually have three “wives.” I love and appreciate them all.
Wife number one is Jeanne. We’ve been married for over 34 years. Wife number two is my cat, Alisha, who is 14, which is about 72 in cat years. Wife number three is my GPS navigation system. She tells me where to go on long trips in my car. I call her Sally.
Wife number two, Alisha, has some strange quirks. For example, for some unknown reason, she loves being on my left shoulder. If I am sleeping on my back while in bed, Alisha will slowly and quietly attempt to move to that exact location. When she does, she will show her satisfaction by kneading her claws into my flesh and purring loudly. For this reason, I seldom find myself sleeping on my back anymore.
I must have been very tired a few weeks ago. After I woke up, I realized that I had some sort of rash on my left shoulder. It was nowhere else on my body. Jeanne said it was probably Alisha’s work. I think she was right. I must have slept on my back at one point in time during the night.
My second wife also has another habit. She brings me socks.
The laundry room is downstairs. She will make the trip down there many times in a 24-hour period. Alisha will find a sock and then attempt to locate me in the house, meowing while still clamping down tightly on the fabric with her teeth.
Once she has found me, she drops the sock close by and then sashays over to where I am. I usually laugh and give her my attention, and that’s exactly what she wants. I have learned to shut the door to the downstairs during the night. Otherwise, my sleep will most certainly be interrupted.
It is my belief that we always have God’s attention. It is a constant. There may be occasions, or stretches of time, when we feel that this is not the case, but our feelings may betray us.
God is ever-present, and God’s love is not dependent upon giving gifts to gain what is seemingly only momentary attention and favor.
Walter is pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church and has served as parish pastor for more than 25 years.