Skip to content

Grandma's Gleanings

  • Home
  • Welcome
  • Meet the Author

Grandma's Gleanings

Words and Thoughts from Grandma

Day One Hundred One “Morning Chores”

November 19, 2019 by Cathy Winkle

        I’m probably trapped in an old-age rut, but my morning routine generally plays out in a similar fashion every morning. Arising early, predawn, I open my back door, step out on the deck, and am immediately greeted by my four not-so–feral-anymore kitties, all brimming with hunger and loudly vocalizing the need for food, NOW. I have lovingly prepared their breakfast, consisting of two or three cans of wet cat food, a handful of dry kitty kibbles, and a special treat such as fresh tuna or chicken (good grief!). Once the kitties are contentedly munching, it’s off to the bird feeders that grace our front yard, small seed for the sparrows and finches, some suet for the woodpeckers, sunflower seeds for the songbirds, and of course, some peanuts for the squirrels and blue jays. All is well in the Winkle Animal Reserve, at least until the two worlds collide.

       Cats are hunters by nature and one of my adopted strays, a sleek, short-haired black cat with hypnotizing green eyes, is one of the best. She assumes her favorite hiding spot, either under our thick, holly bushes located beneath our front bay window, or under our drooping, Japanese maple, both providing a clear, uninterrupted view of the bird feeders. Then the game is afoot. She crouches patiently, perfectly camouflaged in the scenery, on guard for the unfortunate creature who will soon be caught unawares. Her focus is undeterred, tail nervously twitching, muscles tightened, then without warning, she strikes, destroying the prey, and providing for herself a tasty kitty-breakfast dessert.

       It’s no coincidence that God likens Satan’s tactics to that of a cat, more specifically, a lion. We are warned to “Be sober,” for our adversary is alert, focused, aware of our weaknesses. And he knows how to bait us, and he will wait, crouched in the bushes, waiting to pounce.  Don’t underestimate his craftiness, his patience, his strategy. As I watch that sly, black cat waiting patiently for those unsuspecting sparrows, I am reminded of that “roaring lion” that is lying in wait for me, watching for the perfect opportunity, that moment of weakness, to strike a fatal blow.

        Thankfully, I can resist him through the One Who has already conquered him. I can be steadfast and I can win that battle, but never in my own strength. I have a more powerful Lion on my side, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, for He won the battle against darkness and defeated this foe at Calvary. Victory over that crafty cat is mine in Christ.

I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Lord, help me to be mindful of Satan’s tactics. His goal is to destroy my joy and my testimony, so I need Your strength and cunning to defeat him.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
<div class='sharedaddy sd-block sd-like jetpack-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-post-wrapper-164683012-812-6827fe0b08e96' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/?ver=14.5#blog_id=164683012&post_id=812&origin=grandmasgleanings.com&obj_id=164683012-812-6827fe0b08e96' data-name='like-post-frame-164683012-812-6827fe0b08e96' data-title='Like or Reblog'><h3 class="sd-title">Like this:</h3><div class='likes-widget-placeholder post-likes-widget-placeholder' style='height: 55px;'><span class='button'><span>Like</span></span> <span class="loading">Loading...</span></div><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div>

Post navigation

Previous Post:

Day One Hundred “The Roar of the Crowd”

Next Post:

Day One Hundred Two “Don’t Lose the Awe”

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Recent Posts

  • Bonked on the Bean!
  • The Dreaded Queue
  • The Parable of the Lily
  • “And Be Ye Kind…”
  • Appearances

Recent Comments

  • Nina Wright on Day One Hundred Seventeen “Earthen Vessels”
  • Cathy Winkle on Just An Old-Fashioned Hymn?
  • MaryEva Shever on Just An Old-Fashioned Hymn?
  • Cathy Winkle on Day Three Hundred Sixty-Five “Bucket List”
  • MaryEva Shever on Day Three Hundred Sixty-Five “Bucket List”

Archives

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019

Categories

  • anger
  • driving
  • fear
  • Greeting
  • insomnia
  • Sacrifice
  • sweet savor
  • Uncategorized
  • wisdom

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 33 other subscribers
© 2025 Grandma's Gleanings | WordPress Theme by Superbthemes
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d