THE CHILDREN STORY CORNER

Friendships

“One that has friends must show himself friendly…” Proverbs 18:24

At one time, we had a dog and a cat as pets. While I enjoyed both, our cat was easier to take care of since he took care of his own cleanliness and kept himself and his living space, neat and tidy. All you really had to do was feed the cat, but the dog you had to feed and walk. We had our cat for the longest time. His name was Fluffy, a grey-striped tiger who managed to put up with our dog, with forced patience.

Later, when we got a new puppy, all was changed. Though the cat was playful, Rex, our puppy, did not seem to know what he was supposed to do with Fluffy. The apartment we lived in was railroad style, but with a step up or down to each separate room. After Rex had been with us for about a month, Fluffy decided to teach him some things. He tried to help Rex know what he wanted him to do in definite cat language! When that did not work, he demonstrated by hopping up the step from the kitchen into the dining room, then back down again. He kept that up for a couple of days, standing by Rex and encouraging him as he tried to copy Fluffy’s example.

When that did not work, he picked up a bone Rex had been chomping on and put it on the top of the dining room step. That got Rex’s attention and he quickly tried to get it. But he wasn’t tall enough to get it while still in the kitchen. He whined and whimpered, looking at me, at mother, and then the cat. Then, Fluffy hopped up and pushed the bone down the step to the kitchen. But, as Rex came over to pick it up, Fluffy snatched it up, hopped back up the step, dropping it down again. That must have connected something in Rex’s brain because then he jumped up the step himself. He almost tripped, but at least he had gotten the idea. After that, the two of them went charging through the house periodically having a great time together. They remained good friends for many years.

We can learn a lot by observing the patience and tolerance that we see in the lives of animals. Sometimes they seem smarter than people. Lesson: It takes time, effort and love to have good friends!

Your Aunt Vivien