I awoke this morning with a question echoing in my mind, "Is your stomach your god?" It only later dawned on me the perfect irony that today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. I immediately grabbed my notebook and started writing down thoughts that I didn't want to forget. I'm not making this up, and I feel quite confident the Lord was speaking to me even while I slept. I had already made the connection to fasting but I thought this concept of your stomach being your god sounded familiar, like something Paul said once in one of the epistles... I looked it up and bingo.
My husband and I are grieving a tragic loss. It has hit our household hard and shaken the foundations of the peaceful and happy life we have built these 12 years together. Almost half of these years were filled with sweetness and joy by the presence of our beloved cat, Vittles. You may think it silly to speak so affectionately of a cat or describe such a heavy grief for the loss of one, but I can promise you it is not an exaggeration. Truth be told, words fail to express how precious Vittles was to us or how heavy the loss of him feels. Vittles was special in an inexpressible way, something I couldn't explain to you no matter how hard I may try. Fortunately, he was also special in describable ways, as well. Vittles was unlike other cats, and I can say that with some authority as we have had 5 and both grew up around cats. He was more loyal and friendly than any dog, but in a non oppressive way. He was sweet and kind and it may sound cliche or untrue but I can say with certainty tha