Sunday, September 18, 2022

How Different, How Alike

 


There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ~Galatians 3:28

How different we are

Yet how alike 

In loving the same

Precious persons

With no exception

We deeply care

In every moment

Miss them when

Time demands absence

From one another

We wait anxiously

Until we feel loving touch

Soothing voices calling

Renewing, so we know

We are never alone

Our loved ones manifest

In our one-another love

And that's a comfort divine.

Amen!



When my daughter, Sarah, sends me these photos of their dog, Finn, and their cat, Henry, I am reminded of how my cat, Jordan, and my dog, Maggie, bonded in such an unconventional and unexpected way years ago.  Tradition tells us that cats and dogs simply cannot and do not get along.  That is not proved in my life experience.  I'm convinced that when love is shared, in the animal kingdom and in the human realm, there are no obstacles we cannot overcome.
In today's contentious and divisive society, this is a powerful lesson we all need to learn.

41 comments:

  1. Let us rejoice in what unites us rather than struggle in what divides us.

    Deep down, most people are good people. Yet the world is still in conflict. The world will never know peace until it learns to forgive.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peace certainly can't be attained without forgiveness, Victor, I agree.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  2. I have neither dog or cat. Probably never will have a feline part of that duo. However, beautiful poem Martha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Bill! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  3. Amen Ms. Martha. Love is that glue that binds us together my friend. Wonderful thoughts this morning. Am saving your gracious words ma'am.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank so much, J.D., for your kind words here. Love is the glue that holds us all together.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  4. Wonderful! These 'dumb animals' (not!) show us many life lessons, if we only take the time to observe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen, Myra, they sure do! And these two make the sweetest buddies ever.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  5. Yes, Martha, so well said! If only... Amen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, if only, Terri. I'm sure your cats are so glad to see you when you get home from work. Am I right? :)
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  6. What sweet fur babies! They look very peaceful and sweet indeed. Yes, they can get along, and so should we all. However, I'm afraid our human issues/differences go a bit deeper than the animal kingdom. They are fortunate to not have to deal with all the stuff we have to endure. They are just very trusting and thankful to have good homes. What a blessing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pets do so bless our lives, Pamela, and remind us how important it is to treat one another with respect, forgiveness and love. I'm sure you see that in your grand-puppies. God has so much to teach us in the creatures He has blessed us with.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  7. Dearest Martha Jane,
    A lovely poem and so true.
    Also we have experiences of love and affection between Mauzie–girl the Dachshund and Bartje a black cat. Color was all they had in common but they slept together so cuddly!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Mariette, thanks so much for sharing this touching story of your two beloved pets bonding with one another. We are so much more than the color of our skin or the places in which we grew up. We are all God's children.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  8. Love your poem, Martha, and the photos of the cat and dog friendship are priceless. God bless!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for your kind words here, Karen. I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoy seeing Mr. T. in your videos - such a gentleman and a good sport! Our pets can make us realize the value in treating each other with love and respect.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  9. Beautiful, Martha. May we be carriers of grace, kindness, and peace into a world filled with pain.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for your kind words here, Linda.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  10. "There are no obstacles we cannot overcome." AMEN, Martha. Praise God for those who work in Christ-centered shelters, missions, rehabilitation centers, aftercare school programs, etc. These people are on the front lines of sharing God's love with those in trouble--no matter their race or background. Such heroes don't complain or lash out because of what they face; they're seeking to be part of the solution and not the problem. We can learn much from their example.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are so many good, God-loving people in this world who simply wish to serve Him and others, Nancy. Yes, they set an example of generosity that the rest of us should strive to follow.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  11. Bom dia, Martha
    Lindo poema, os animais nos ensinam muito, são amorosos e expressam uma alegria muito grande, um forte abraço.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you so much, Lucinalva! We certainly can learn a lot of lessons from God's precious animals if we have eyes to see and hearts to love.
    Love and blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh, how darling! I have heard of cats and dogs being good friends. There is indeed a lesson to learn from this :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. With this world being so divided these days, Marja, I think we truly can learn more about how to love in spite of our differences from the animal kingdom.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  14. I found, too, that dogs don't like cats until they find themselves living with one, Lulu. Most of them are quick to change their tunes! Although, it doesn't hurt that Henry was in the family long before Finn arrived, and he is, without question, the BOSS, although a loving one.
    Love and blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Beautiful poem, Martha.
    Love the photos. Precious! 🐶😺🐾

    Hugs and blessings, my dear friend.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yes, this is definitely a lesson we all need to be reminded of! I love the photo. May we each find our "opposite" this week and show some love. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Lisa, what a great idea and challenge you've proffered here! Let us make a point of trying to find our opposite and show them the kind of love Jesus would have us offer and live by. Glad you liked the photo, too.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  17. Ephesians 2:15: "that he might form the two in himself into one new man, making peace"; wonderful to have one Object.

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    Replies
    1. Amen, David, amen! May we love how Jesus wants us to.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  18. Dear friend, I am still not getting your blog posts, so I apologize that I don't stop by to visit as often as usual. It is so frustrating—I have just suddenly stopped receiving many of the blog posts I subscribe to, and others have stopped being notified when I post, too. Not sure what is going on, but it is hard to keep up because my way of remembering to read them is by seeing them in my inbox. I trust all is well with you and your family. Many blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I certainly hear, and feel, your frustration, Cheryl! I've had many a problem with notifications, especially the ones I've subscribed to via mail. They just stopped showing up! I've had to rely on using the actual blogger "follow" option so that friends' posts show up on my reading list of my actual blog. Have you tried that yet? It might solve the issue.
      Thanks for taking the time to let me know!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  19. Replies
    1. Thank you, Rajani, and I will read your post.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete

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