There’s very few things my Sassy loves more than brushing up against a fresh bouquet of flowers. Very early on as a cat parent, I made the decision my cat would not be restricted from being a cat. If she wants to jump on furniture, I don’t force her down but instead clean more often. If she wants to explore something that requires supervision, time is allowed for that. If she claws furniture, I don’t declaw her but buy less expensive things and provide more scratching posts. She has her cat bed, but she is also allowed to cuddle in our bed as well. And if Sassy wants to brush up against the flowers, I let her.

As a cat parent, I’ve learned many things from the ultimate parent, Father God. He graciously allows me to be human and to make mistakes without ever taking His eyes off of me. I’ve chosen to keep Sassy mostly inside for her protection, and that came alongside the decision to not take away her free will. We can’t remove someone from their natural habitat and then automatically expect them to be someone they’re not. You can take the cat out of nature, but you can’t take the nature out of the cat.

God’s grace isn’t a license to sin but rather a safety net when we stumble. His grace comes with the understanding that we will continue to fall short because we are still human, the understanding that being made new doesn’t exempt us from our inherent sin nature. The beauty of God’s grace lies in the fact that though He rescues us, He doesn’t take away our free will or penalize us for being human; that is, He loves us without demanding it in return.

“In My Nature” is inspired by God’s grace, illustrated by my sweet Sassy and her love for flowers. His grace has encouraged me to always allow Sassy to stop and smell the roses, being gracious when some of the leaves get nibbled on. This piece will serve as a reminder to give grace freely the way it has been freely given to us.

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How dull indeed life would be

without a vibrant garden.

How different our Father God would be 

if His heart He chose to harden.

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But Father God isn’t a tyrant;

He loves to see us smile.

He chooses to give His children freedom

protecting us all the while.

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I long to give my Sassy too

a garden full and bright; 

a garden of freedom, beauty, and color

as she’s precious in my sight.

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This freedom I give to be herself

nurtures the bond that’s ours.

With compassion, I know it’s in her nature

to stop and smell the flowers.