Brownie’s Kittens
By Christy Lowman
Burke County
Have you ever heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words?”
Well, this picture says all there is to say about Brownie. We call the kittens “Brownie’s kittens,” because she loves them so much. She has fussed over them; momma’s them to death and worries countlessly over them. She also gives them kisses, cleans their ears, and plays with them every single day, even when she doesn’t want to.
I realized I have a lot in common with Brownie. I’m not sure it’s a good thing being compared to a dog, and for the record, I certainly don’t lick and clean other people’s ears. However, there are traits that we both have in common. I love just about all animals, (except bats, I’m not a fan) and will care for them to the best ability much the same way with people. Of course, if bats needed help I’d figure out a way to help them, too. Brownie is like this because she prides herself on being a fill-in Momma.
Brownie is a little hyper and tries to do a bunch of things at once. She is always running everywhere. I’m always multi-tasking, and my mind never shuts off. It’s going a mile a minute, thinking of everything under the sun at the same time, even when I’m trying to go to sleep.
Brownie goes out of her way to try to make others happy, and she tries her very best to get everyone to like her. She wants everyone, and every animal to be her friend. For the ones that don’t really care for her, she will go out of her way to change their mind. Needless to say, it hasn’t worked so far. Ruby, unfortunately, is not a fan of Brownie. She tolerates her but is not her best friend, which is what Brownie desires most. My Dad is another that she wants to like her more than anything. She is so wrapped up in making this a reality she doesn’t always see the ones right in front of her that adore her. This is so me. I love making other people happy. I want everyone to like me and I try very hard to make that happen.
Another example is Brownie is a worrier. She likes to know where the kittens are at all times and she checks on them regularly. She also doesn’t like to make anyone mad. This is also me. I am a people pleaser, and I’m constantly worrying if I made someone mad. I’m constantly worried about what others think of me and if I accidentally offended someone.
God finally told me it was time to let this go. It doesn’t matter what I do, people already have their opinion of me. Nothing I say or do is going to change their mind. It is already made up. So what if I accidentally upset them or make them mad? If I’m living for Christ that is all that matters. Only He can change the mindset and hearts of people, not me. He told me, to focus on what is really important, doing what pleases Him. That is truly the most important thing. If I do that, then the rest will fall in place. Only then will I have peace and enjoy true happiness when I focus on pleasing my Lord and Savior instead of others.
January first is one of the most exciting days of the year for me. Do you know why? It is because I reflect on the past year. I examine myself and see what I need to try and change the next year. Everyone has things they change about themselves to become a better follower of Christ. God will also show me things I need to work on. This year, He wants me to focus on our relationship and start living more for Him. He wants me to stop sweating and worrying about little stuff like how others feel about me. He will handle that part himself. Honestly, I’m ready to give that up anyway because it is quite exhausting! He wants me to quit being a people pleaser and instead be a God pleaser.
God has also laid on my heart so many projects and stories for the New Year. They will keep me very busy and I won’t have time for worrying and stressing. There will be no room for those thoughts to take up space in my mind.
What about you? Are you a worrier? Maybe you are a people pleaser too? Do you care what others think about you? Do you try to make everyone like you?
What has God laid on your heart to work on changing about yourself? What are you going to do to get closer to God this brand new year?
Dear Lord, please show each one of us what you will have us work on this next year about ourselves and our relationship with You. Help us live for You instead of living to please others. Help us to not worry about anything. Instead, help us cast all our worries to You for You to take care of. I pray that each one of us will include You in our future, that we will trust You and give You complete control of what is yet to come in our lives. In Jesus’s name, I pray, Amen.
“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Galatians 1:10 NLT
“Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Ephesians 6:7 NLT
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Christy Lowman is a Christian author and illustrator that lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband and two children. She enjoys writing and illustrating books for all ages. Some of her short stories are published with Guideposts and HCI. Christy gives all the glory to God in everything she does. A portion of every book sold from the Small Bible Character Series will be donated to battle human trafficking. If you enjoy her books, “like’ her author page on Facebook and let her know! You can buy her books at //www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AChristy+Lowman&s=relevancerank&text=Christy+Lowman&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1. You can reach her at //www.facebook.com/authorChristyLowman/
or christyssoaps@yahoo.com
You can read more Christian news from Christy here.
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