“Oh, yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;  you formed me in my mother’s womb….You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something”    ~Psalm 129:13,15-16 (The Message Bible)

I’m a huge animal lover.  I can’t stand to see anything hurting, hungry, or homeless!  If we lived on a farm, I would be in my “earthly heaven” and would take in every stray or unwanted animal around.  Over the years, my husband has tried to convince me many times that “I’m not Noah” and “This isn’t the ark we live in”.  I simply can’t help it……I HAVE to help hurt or abandoned animals.

That being said…we had a stray cat come up several weeks ago.  Because she’s so sweet, I’m absolutely certain she belonged to someone and either got lost or somehow misplaced.  Of course, I began feeding her, put bedding and toys out on the porch for her, and gave her lots of attention every day.

Yesterday, July 4th, she had kittens!  We had prayed that she would have the kittens while we were at home so the kids and I could make sure everything went well.  One by one (6 total) each kitten was born.  As “Muffy” birthed each kitten, she licked it’s little body to stimulate the breathing.  She, then, carefully chewed the umbilical cord to sever the tie from the old life and begin the freedom of the new life for her babies.  It was an amazing process to watch!

By the time the last two kittens were born, “Muffy” was tired and not responding as quickly to chewing the umbilical cord.  The girls, my mother, and I watched as one of the kittens squirmed around its mother, trying desperately to get to the “food supply” but couldn’t because the umbilical cord was still attached.

           

Wow!  Think about that…..WE go through life many times with  our ”umbilical cord” still attached to the old – our old way of thinking, our old way of talking, our old way of believing, etc.  Everytime we try to  “get to the food supply”  so we can grow and mature in Christ, the “old stuff” holds us back and often times causes defeat.

Yesterday, “I” cut the umbilical cords for the last two kittens.  Once they were free, they quickly made their way to their mother and filled their little tummies with “life giving nutrients”.  No longer were they bound to their old way of life, which would have eventially killed them; they were free.

You and I are no different, in a sense:  We MUST sever the ties with all those things that keep us from experiencing freedom in Christ.  We must run to God and His Word, eat from His table, and purposely choose every day to look forward instead of behind!

Maybe you find yourself overwhelmed with the past.  Hurt, disappointment, and rejection keep you bound up and play games with your mind and emotions.  Let me encourage you today:  Stop using your past as an excuse to keep you from your future!  Let it go; and allow God to do marvelous things in you and through you.