Discipline and Pets

I have a cat that complains bitterly about being groomed. I sometimes try to talk soothingly to him as he hollers, hisses, etc. and explain to him that he will feel better if I get the knot out, and that he will look so much more handsome when his fur is all nice. Of course, this does very little good because (a) he can't understand much (or perhaps any) of what I am saying (he can usually understand "no," even if he chooses not to heed the command) and (b) he can't think ahead to the future positive effects of the current discomfort.

I had been reading in the book of Hebrews in about chapter 12 (or maybe 13) about how God disciplines his children and I had a lightbulb moment. Often when I'm going through less than comfortable circumstances, I fuss, I complain, I throw hissy fits (sometimes just to friends and family, sometimes actually directed toward God). And I really should be remembering that this may be God's discipline, and He could be working toward something good in my life that I can't currently see any better than my cat can see that getting tangles out of his fur will somehow improve his life.

So, that's my little sermon for myself today.