There are two cats in our house. We feed them and take care of them, but they have their own routines, so I’m not sure that I can say we own them. If you have any cat experience, you know what I mean.

One is a plain black cat, the other is a mackerel tabby (black, gray, brownish striped cat). They were from the same litter, and get along pretty well most times. There is one time that they do get into a fight, and it starts innocently every time. The black cat will be laying on the floor, and the tabby will walk up and begin to lick her. I picture it in my head as the tabby saying, “Why you so dirty? Every time I look, you black. Why you no stay clean?” I can’t prove that’s what she says, but it makes for a funny scene for me. The black cat will enjoy the licking for a little bit, then will turn over on her back and grab the tabby. This begins a fight, because the tabby is very protective of herself.

The fight will last for a few minutes at most, and never gets severe. I’m pretty sure the black cat is just playing, but she doesn’t seem to tell the tabby that.

What I notice more (besides that play-by-play in my head) is that the tabby gives the appearance of being friendly, and wanting to help. She’s just being a good sister. There are two ways to look at what is going on. The first, which I already mentioned, is that the black cat wants to play. I guess she thinks the tabby is playing, and wants to roughhouse a little. This doesn’t go over real well. But, I can easily find myself doing the same. Someone is truly trying to be helpful, and I let fly a snarky comment, maybe as a joke. And this causes the other person to retaliate. Their help was countered with ire, and neither one of us is any better off.

The other way to look at it that the black cat does not want the help/attention, and lashes out. Though I don’t tend to think this is the case, I still notice it in my dealings with people. I keep to myself quite a bit. It isn’t that I’m opposed to people, I just need to have time to myself at some point. When someone intrudes on that privacy, it can trigger a negative response.

On top of that, how often do we get upset with because He helps us? He urges us to let go of anger, and we tell Him we want to be angry. Something doesn’t go the way we want, and it’s God’s fault. We do we get uptight when someone is trying to help?

One other note with the cats; the tabby never stops licking. She will try nearly every day. The outcome is the same, but she continues. I’m glad God doesn’t stop when we do something stupid.