Fool or Hero? January 6

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11 (NIV)
I stepped out the back door to spy my little silver kitty cat in the jaws of my great big dog. It is a real problem keeping the kittens safe now that they are older. They want to be by the house instead of in the barn where they belong. I am not sure that the dogs would hurt them, but when the kittens run, the chase is on. I am continually interceding on their behalf, extracting them from under boats and on top of cars to move them to safety. I screamed at Sky and she released LeSabre. He lay limp at her feet and she scooped him up again. By this time, I was almost to her and when I yelled a second time, she dropped him once more. I grabbed him up. He was still breathing and okay, but sopping wet and cold. I held him close for a long time to warm him and make sure he was not hurt. Then, I scolded him for being so foolish. Why not just stay in the barn where he is safe? As time went by, I began watching him more closely, and the real story unfolded. Electra, my bold wild kitty teases the dogs. She runs right out in front of them and dares them to pursue her. Pretty soon, she is up in a tree with two determined dogs panting below. They refuse to leave their prey, and she is forced to climb higher. Then, LeSabre puts himself in the position of decoy so that she can come down. He walks out and deliberately places himself in harm’s way to save his sister. Instead of thinking him silly, I began to see him as a hero. In his own way, he is laying his life on the line for her protection. There are many people whom God places in our path who need our help as well. Rarely, we will be called to literally go into the jaws of death as LeSabre was. But, we often must set aside the things in our life that give us pleasure or that we think we need in order to support and nurture others. We must lay down the hobbies or activities, wealth or time that are not really ours to use, but gifts from God, in order to be servants. And we must do it regardless of any judgments that we might make. Electra deserves to get stuck in the tree for her stupid ventures under a dog’s nose. Yet, LeSabre risks his own life to give her a way of escape. Have we ever been tempted not to help someone by reasoning “They got themselves into it, they can get themselves out of it?” We can remain inside the house, oblivious to the drama that is unfolding around us or we can be vigilant seeking ways to serve. Laying down your life is not foolish, but necessary if we are going to make a difference in our world.