Small Protector

The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold as a lion.

AS A YOUNG CAT, Tater Tot wasn’t what anyone would call bold or assertive. The little multi-colored cat preferred quiet solitude to boisterous gatherings and a familiar blanket to a brand-new toy. In fact, Lynn often wished her petite cat would be a little braver and more animated, especially when she brought home something she thought her pet would like. Invariably, Tater Tot would sprint away from anything new as if the item posed a threat. Such was the case with the window seat Lynn had installed. She had high hopes that Tater Tot would enjoy watching the birds from a higher and softer surface than the floor. However, instead of springing up to the cushion, Tater Tot was terrified and ran straight to Lynn’s bedroom, burying herself under the blankets on the bed.

“Oh, Tater Tot,” Lynn sighed in defeat.

But several months later, Lynn began noticing subtle changes in her normally apprehensive cat.

It started when Tater Tot showed interest in a long feathered stick toy Lynn’s coworker had given her. When Lynn held it just out of Tater Tot’s reach, the cat had walked toward it, instead of immediately retreating.

“Wow! Brave girl,” Lynn had praised.

A few weeks later, Tater Tot eagerly approached a visitor to their home whom she normally hid from. This is wonderful progress, Lynn thought.

And several weeks after that, Tater Tot unexpectedly jumped on the window seat she had avoided for nearly a year. Lynn watched quietly, pretending to act indifferently to her cat’s sudden act of courage, but inside she was shouting for joy.

More time passed. One evening when Lynn got home from running errands and pulled into the driveway, she noticed the outside lights on both sides of the garage door weren’t working. Normally, they automatically went on when it started to get dark. Lynn knew who to call. Her stepdad knew how to fix just about anything.

“It might be the timer. I can come by tomorrow around three,” he kindly offered.

“Unfortunately, I have conference calls all afternoon,” she said, fearing the repair would have to wait.

Her stepdad chuckled. “Well, unless you have electrical skills I don’t know about, I think I can manage just fine on my own. Just leave the garage door open for me.”

The next day, Lynn sat down for a long afternoon of phone meetings. Twenty minutes into her second call, Tater Tot—who had been sleeping soundly beside Lynn’s feet—jumped up on the desk and startled Lynn. The little cat let out a deep sustained meow that sounded threatening.

“Are you . . . growling?” Lynn asked aloud, forgetting she was on the phone. “Uh, sorry,” she said to her colleagues. “I need to step away from the meeting for a minute.”

Tater Tot crept toward the side door leading into the garage and repeated the menacing sound. It was unnerving to Lynn, especially coming from her normally timid cat. Tater Tot crouched low to the ground as if preparing to launch herself at anyone who dared to cross the threshold. Her panther-like pose alarmed Lynn. What if there was a burglar in her garage? Wait, Lynn interrupted her own emotional tailspin and looked at her watch. Three o’clock.

“Okay, Killer, you stay here a minute,” Lynn instructed Tater Tot, who let out another throaty growl. “Goodness, you are kind of terrifying for a nine-pound cat.”

Lynn opened the door a few inches and peeked out. Her stepdad waved.

“Go back to your calls,” he said. “I’ve got this.”

Tater Tot tried to dart around Lynn’s legs and into the garage to confront the intruder.

“Wow, you conquer one window seat and suddenly you have the courage of a tiger! Down, girl. We’re safe.”

Tater Tot kept watch by the door for several minutes before she joined Lynn in the living room.

Lynn didn’t know what had caused her small companion to go from scaredy-cat to fearless protector. But knowing Tater Tot had her back brought a smile to Lynn’s face—and a large helping of treats to the guard cat’s belly.

PAWS & PONDER . . .

Can you think of a time when you had to act boldly? Does boldness come easy for you, or do you struggle to be brave? What role does righteousness play in knowing when and how to act boldly?

Paws & Pray

Lord, please help me know when and how I should act boldly. Show me when to speak up and how to take action when necessary. Give me your discernment to detect danger and give me the courage I need to speak your truth to others.