Three Cat Night

If you’re new to my blog or don’t know me, you may not know that Monty and I have three cats.  Seamus is our biggest cat, at 22 pounds, and he firmly believes he is the king of the manor.  He does not answer to “Seamus” but might flick an ear in your direction if you call him Your Majesty.  He pretends he is an only child, but Carrick, the baby of the family, never lets him forget that he has younger brothers.  And Seamus never lets Carrick forget that he is bigger, stronger, and much more quick-tempered.  If Carrick does forget, Seamus reminds him in not-so-subtle ways.

Carrick is exactly half the size of Seamus but doesn’t seem to know it.  He follows Seamus around all day.  When Seamus eats, Carrick eats.  When Seamus uses the litter box, Carrick is right behind him.  The more Seamus ignores Carrick, the more Carrick wants to be noticed.  So Carrick will hide behind doors or stand on countertops.  And when Seamus walks by, Carrick jumps him.  Instantly, Seamus is forced to remember that he is not an only child.  With one move, he rolls Carrick over and sends him scooting right back where he came from.  But Carrick is persistent.  No matter how many times Seamus hisses at him and growls a warning, Carrick keeps coming.  Until Seamus decides to end it by laying on Carrick, forcing us to intervene.

And then there’s Mackin.  Mackin loves his brothers, especially Carrick.  He likes to take naps with him, play hide and seek with him, and let Carrick chase him.  But Mackin isn’t a part of the sibling rivalry that the others share.  He has no interest in fighting for attention, for treats, or for the best nap spot.  He’d rather do his own thing, off by himself, and let the other two fight.

Until one day when something fascinating happened in the life of these three boys.  Their grandma and grandpa gave them a giant cat tree.  Once it was assembled, Carrick and Seamus immediately jumped on the different perches.  They played with the toys hanging off of it.  Carrick tried to go to the highest perch but Seamus knocked him off and laid there.  Mackin stood back and watched.  Finally, when Seamus and Carrick were tired of playing on it, they wandered off to eat and sleep, and Mackin had his chance to explore the cat tree.  And explore it he did.  He sniffed every inch of it.  He sat in the cubby hole in the middle.  He batted the mouse and ball around.  And finally, after much circling, watching, and twitching, Mackin jumped to the top perch.

This immediately caught the attention of his brothers.  They decided they wanted to sit on the top perch.  Both of them climbed the cat tree, and both tried to knock Mackin down.  But Mackin held his ground.  He pushed Carrick back.  He sat down and refused to move when Seamus tugged at him.  This thoroughly confused his brothers.  Mackin had never fought for anything.  When he wasn’t off doing something odd by himself, he was letting his brothers walk all over him.  But not this time.  Mackin decided he wanted that top perch.  And for the first time in his life, he fought for it.  Three months after the cat tree went up, Mackin is still holding firm.  He sleeps on the top perch.  He brings his favorite toy up there.  Seamus sits on the two bottom perches but no longer even tries to sit on the top one.  Carrick tries.  But Mackin pushes him off.  He has found his place.  And he won’t let anyone take it.

I think Mackin has the right idea.  He’s happy being himself.  He likes doing his own thing, however odd his brothers think it is.  And he finally decided to fight for something he cared about.  Day after day.  And he wins.

Without thinking about it, ask yourself this question: What one thing do I need to fight for to make my life better?  Where do I need to take a stand for myself and say, This is my fight, and I will not give in?  Whatever comes to your mind first is your answer.  Because your heart knows, even if your mind hasn’t gotten that far.  Go with what your heart says.  Choose your one fight—just one, not the twelve things you ruminate over—the most important one in your life right now, and decide how you’re going to win that fight.  If our Mackin can do it, so can you.

“If It’s Worthwhile”
– Edgar Guest

If it’s worthwhile, then it’s worth a few blows,
worth a few setbacks and worth a few bruises;
If it’s worthwhile—and it is, I suppose—
it’s worth keeping on, though the first struggle loses.

If it’s worthwhile, then it’s worth a good fight,
worth a few bouts with the demon, Disaster,
worth going after with courage and might,
worth keeping on ‘til you’ve proved you are master.

If it’s worthwhile, then it’s worth a few pains,
worth a few heartaches and worth a few sorrows,
worth clinging fast to the hope that remains,
worth going on through the doubtful tomorrow.

Stand to the battle and see the test through,
pay all you have in endurance and might for it;
If it’s worthwhile and a good thing to do,
then it is worth all it costs in the fight for it.