Fishes and Loaves....and Cats



Say hello to Mufasa....currently living in our bathroom

Austin and I have a new found desire to be intentional with our money, to not stray from the monthly budget and to be wise in our financial decisions (while we've tried, we haven't always been good at sticking to the monthly plan).  When you see the dollar amount attached with each phase of our adoption paperwork, it's hard not to find deep motivation to stay on track.  We are two weeks away from our target to turn in our homestudy paperwork (and a rather large chunk of money).  Which brings me to the picture to your right.....meet Mufasa. 


Mufasa is our outside cat, unofficially adopted by us over six years ago when he showed up at our old house.  While he apparently had a family at some point in his life, he decided he liked us better and never left.  He has literally been the cat with nine lives, living through dog attacks, open wounds, massive skin infections, etc.  At one point in his life, he lived almost three months at the vet's office due to illness.  Long story short, he turned up missing week before last and was discovered in our neighbor's garage, badly injured.  His diagnoses included a broken sternum and a bad bite wound (dog?).  After a week long stay at the vet, he came home yesterday.  Mufasa is currently enjoying the inside life and is hanging in our master bathroom (his two indoor "sisters" are not found of him....meaning they hiss and growl and generally despise him).  While we were thrilled to have him home, the $700 vet bill couldn't have arrived at a worse time.  Two steps forward, three steps back.  Austin and I both felt a sense of disappointment and frustration yesterday, however, I started reflecting on the story of the fishes and loaves.  I recently read a blog that brought something to my attention in this all too familiar passage.  (Matthew 14:15-19)


The disciples start to panic, there is not enough food to feed the crowd.  Jesus takes the five loaves and two fish....and gives thanks and breaks the bread.  He gives thanks for something that is not enough.  And those five loaves turned in to enough to feed thousands and thousands.  Even though our bank account clearly does not have enough to support our adoption journey, I will still give thanks.  I will praise God for my blessings and hold tight to my faith.  He will provide what we need.