Jeanette Stark
- Oct 12, 2021
- 4 min read

Laughing With Their Tails

Good morning. It Tuesday, October 12, 2021.

It was cold this morning. I had 27 degrees at my house. It was 29 in town.

I had a wood stove installed about a week and half ago. I love heating with wood. It is so…thorough. I woke this morning to very few coals left but my house was 71. Nice and toasty compared to what I walked out to this morning.

Steam was coming up through the storm grates as I drove into town, there was frost on the roof tops, a clear morning sky, and trees turning their vibrant fall colors. The air smelled good and felt crisp and clean. I love autumn and I especially love mornings like this.

Jude 1:12 “…waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn…” ESV

I love pulling my sweaters out, dusting my boots off, and wearing scarves. I love the cooler days after coming out of a southern Oregon summer. Wearing socks to bed, lap blankets in the living room, slippers, and my warm fuzzy robe.

The rains and cloudy days will come soon enough, but for now I relish days like this.

Isaiah 44:23

Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it;

shout, O depths of the earth;

break forth into singing, O mountains,

O forest, and every tree in it!

For the Lord has redeemed…,

and will be glorified…”

Today is the first day the kittens have been left at home. They are no longer on a bottle. They are eating canned kitten food and yesterday my friend and co-worker Denise introduced them to a little bit of kibble. It was time. Besides, I was growing tired of a litter box in my office 😊

This morning as I prepared to leave them in the bathroom, I ran down my check list.

Rugs picked up. Check

Water dish full. Check

A bowl of wet food and a bowl of dry food. Check

Clean litter box. Check

Shower curtain out of reach. Check

Toilet lid shut. Check

Wastepaper basket out of reach. Check.

Empty boxes and a paper bag to play with. Check

Wicker hamper removed. Check

Soft blanket in corner. Check

As I shut the door, I told them to be good and I would be back soon. They were too busy playing to acknowledge me.

These kitties have brought me so much joy! They have made me laugh so hard. Their antics are quite hilarious at times.

The dog is getting used to them and really, he likes them, he just plays a little too rough and I must keep my eye on him.

I have included a picture of the three of them. My dog's name is Baxter. The kitty close to his nose is Ricky, or Lil' Ricky as my granddaughter calls him. The kitten in the background is Maizy.

I enjoy the thought that Jesus gave us animals to care for and to love. Those animals in return will love us and give us years of happiness, laughter, and joy.

Max Eastman once said “Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tales.”

I also read something once that made me giggle, not only from the humor, but also with the truth of it:

How can you prove that a dog is truly a man's best friend? Put your dog and your wife in the trunk of the car for an hour. When you open the trunk, who is really happy to see you?

I was looking for Bible verses on dogs and found this. The visual made me chuckle.

“Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.” Proverbs 26:17 ESV.

That is good advice on both accounts. Do not put your nose in other people’s business and do not grab a passing dog by the ears. ;0)

Have you ever read the “Steadfast Love” chapter? I believe it is written in a type of “call and response”. I will leave that with you this morning:

Psalm 136 ESV

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,