Charity Never Faileth

How to accidentally steal a cat:

1. Black cat shows up on your porch every day.

2. Kids can’t resist holding & petting him

3. Let him come in the house once

4. Maybe twice

5. Ok more

6. Eventually buy cat food cause he keeps eating mac & cheese off the floor.

7. Let him sleep over when he shows up wounded

8. And repeat

9. Congrats! You now have a cat that’s not really your cat!

Ok, we are NOT catnappers, but 3 years ago we found ourselves in this situation. This cat kept showing up at our door! With terrible wounds! Did he have a deadly disease? In a cat gang? Abused? 😢 Was anyone else taking care of him? We didn’t know.

Honestly, he was gross. He was pitiful. We didn’t know what to do. We weren’t pet people! But for months, we let him in. 

One day when the cat looked particularly dismal, my husband taught the kids a tender lesson. He said anyone can be nice when it’s convenient. But being kind when you don’t HAVE to be, when no one EXPECTS you to be, when ANYONE would understand why you WOULDN’T be- that takes true charity. Showing compassion to those who are ignored, disdained, looked down on...

Like gruesome, grungy cats.

One day the cat didn’t show up. We looked for him everywhere. We mourned him! We’ve since gotten our own cat, but the kids still talk about him.

It was a sweet experience & I wish I could say we’ve since treated everyone with the tenderness of caring for a sickly cat.

The truth is, my husband’s right. True charity is HARD. As demonstrated today when we had to restart home church 3 times cause of the kids’ fighting. 🤦‍♀️

It’s hard to be “tolerant of others,” “lenient toward their actions,” “merciful, not only in times of... affliction...but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others,” to have ”patience with someone who has let us down,” to “accept people as they truly are,” & not be “offended easily,” or “critical” (Pres. Monson)

But when WE show up at God’s door wounded & flawed, He takes US in! Every time. He feeds us, shelters us, heals us, LOVES us.

If we are to be as He is, we must plead for charity! It purifies. It endures. It wins!

“If ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth” (Mor. 7:46)