Joy Comes in the Morning

That picture above pretty well sums up my days lately. With a sick cat, laundry seems to be my life now. And if you look closely, you'll see a stuffed rabbit in the washer. Calvin nailed a treasured childhood toy that my aunt handmade for me. Thankfully, Bunny survived the washing machine, which I figured to be my only real option in cleaning her up after an attack of the Cat Who Wants to Potty on Soft Things.

And nothing is sacred. I discovered last night that he nailed the undersuit to Steven's stormtrooper armor. I had to wash it twice to get the smell out, it was that bad. Steven was less than pleased when I told him about it.

Yesterday I just felt beaten down. This cat's illness is costing us more than just vet bills. Just this week I've had to purchase a waterproof mattress pad for the bed in the guest room, as well as a new memory-foam pillow for Steven. I was in a hurry the other night because we were going to visit one of our youth group kiddos in the hospital, and I accidentally forgot to close the bedroom door. Calvin found Steven's pillow...

I haven't been sleeping well lately. I guess it's just the stress and worry of it all. But last night I slept hard for the first time in a few days, and I realized (again) the truth of this verse:

Psalm 30:5
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

It's amazing how a good night's sleep can change perspective. I was beaten down yesterday and frustrated with the whole situation, but today, I'm in a much better mood. (Of course, it helps that we made it through the night without any new surprises from the cat.) And as I'm seeking patience with a cat who can't help being sick, I'm reminded of the great patience God has for me. I need to be a reflection of Him in dealing with life's unpleasantries, rather than grumbling and feeling irritated. And that joy in the morning? Yet another reminder to enjoy the gifts I have here and now. Calvin won't be here forever, obviously. I need to appreciate his presence in my life right now, in spite of the extra work and expense he causes lately.