Sweet Pea’s Mitten

The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper.

CAN THIS WEEK please go by a little faster? Carolyn thought as she waited anxiously to bring her new kitten home.

After losing her beloved cat, Winnie, earlier that summer—and grieving more than she had thought possible—Carolyn was ready to bring a new companion into her life. She was delighted when she saw the kitten from the Paws Humane Society online. She just had to wait until the kitten, whom she had named Sweet Pea, turned eight weeks old to bring her home.

In an attempt to keep herself busy while she waited, Carolyn got out needles and yarn and began knitting—something she enjoyed but hadn’t done in quite a while. It didn’t take her long to create two cute toys in the shape of tiny multicolored mittens, made irresistible with catnip inside. She planned to put one in Sweet Pea’s carrier for the ride home and tuck the other in a drawer for safekeeping.

Finally, the week was up. When Carolyn brought Sweet Pea home, the mitten was larger than the kitten’s head. Sweet Pea would lie on the mitten like a pillow, cuddle it like a stuffed animal, and curl up on it like it was a tiny bed.

As Sweet Pea grew, she took her mitten everywhere. Wherever she was, her mitten was there too. The mitten became her lovey, her comfort item, and her friend. She would cling to it when she was upset and bring it to Carolyn when Mommy was upset. In fact, it was so cherished that it started showing signs of wear and tear.

Carolyn tried switching it out for the identical match, but Sweet Pea rejected the imposter. After listening to her cat pitifully carry on for more than an hour, Carolyn made a few repairs to the original mitten and gave it back to Sweet Pea. Her cries became purrs as she nuzzled her treasure.

For three and a half years, as the well-loved mitten began to show its age, Carolyn tried to swap it out with mitten #2, but Sweet Pea would have none of it.

There may be a time in the future when the old mitten will be too far gone. But not now. Her tiny mitten is enough for her.

Sweet Pea trusted Carolyn to take care of her, and she trusted her catnip mitten to comfort her.

Carolyn took this illustration of contentment to heart as she and Sweet Pea moved into their new home two years later. Every time Carolyn started looking for just one more item for the house, she would stop and smile, thinking of Sweet Pea’s favorite mitten and questioning the necessity of another household purchase.

Thanks, Sweet Pea, for the reminder. I have everything I need, and it really is enough.

PAWS & PONDER . . .

What does trusting in the Lord and being content have to do with prospering? In what ways do we prosper by trusting in the Lord and being content? Conversely, how can being greedy or discontent create conflict in our lives?

Paws & Pray

God, I have everything I need in you. And yet I often want more and more material things in order to feel satisfied. Father, fill my heart with an awareness of your presence so that I will focus less on acquiring more things. Remind me of your sufficiency and love and how you provide good things for me. Help me to be grateful for everything you have given me and to be content.