I now think of those occasions as sent by God. "My servant, you have an opportunity to save one of my little ones. Will you?" I dread to say no. I can't do it. The torment of regret is too painful. I have a one-way valve policy: if they come into my life, they shall not leave it for the rest of theirs. (On one occasion I failed out of uncertainty, and have regretted that for perhaps 40 years now.)
I seem to have infected my wife with this outlook. Zambians tend to regard all domestic animals as livestock, not as pets. Keeping cats is regarded as being a flirtation with witchcraft. All small animals are held in suspicion. But during her recent sojourn in Zambia, she has become an officer in the SPCA, and compulsively rescues stray cats and dogs, and tends them until they can be adopted into a good home. (She enjoins any adopters to behave well to the animal or she will personally bite off their heads.)
I now think of those occasions as sent by God. "My servant, you have an opportunity to save one of my little ones. Will you?" I dread to say no. I can't do it. The torment of regret is too painful. I have a one-way valve policy: if they come into my life, they shall not leave it for the rest of theirs. (On one occasion I failed out of uncertainty, and have regretted that for perhaps 40 years now.)
I seem to have infected my wife with this outlook. Zambians tend to regard all domestic animals as livestock, not as pets. Keeping cats is regarded as being a flirtation with witchcraft. All small animals are held in suspicion. But during her recent sojourn in Zambia, she has become an officer in the SPCA, and compulsively rescues stray cats and dogs, and tends them until they can be adopted into a good home. (She enjoins any adopters to behave well to the animal or she will personally bite off their heads.)
That's wonderful! I agree, if they come into our lives, it's for a reason.