Carol Ross-Burnett

  • Home
    • Bio
    • Blog
    • Photo Gallery
    • Video Archives
  • Platform Workshops
  • Music
  • Store
  • Ladies, Let's Get Real!
  • News/Social Media/Press
  • Resources
  • Calendar

Carol's Blog

Carol shares on a variety of topics to inform, encourage and uplift you!

Join our mailing list

THE CAT NAP

9/23/2019

0 Comments

 
​I got home one day recently just before noon. The last few weeks had been non-stop with a packed calendar of travel, meetings and activities. After putting away my things, I pulled open the drapes in my dining room to expose the light of the warm, sunny day. That’s when I noticed the neighborhood cat languishing on my banister. A striped grey and white pattern from head to toe, I almost didn’t see her lying there, shaded by a large aloe vera bush that framed the ledge. I paused and watched her for a moment as she peacefully slept. I stepped back and studied her from behind the curtain so as not to disturb her. Blissfully unaware of my presence, her long tail was wrapped around her body and her eyes were closed in a restful sleep.

How I envied that cat nap! I thought about the many times when I wanted to take a nap in the middle of the day, but always talked myself out of it. Too much to do, and if I lie down, I know I’m down for the count and I won’t wake up until the next morning. So, no naps for me!

Some time passed and I forgot about my little neighbor spread out on the banister until I walked out to get the mail from my box, adjacent to the ledge. Slowly she opened her eyes and, watching me warily, she didn’t move or budge from her perch. Her eyes followed me to my mailbox and back through my front door. I closed the door softly so I wouldn’t startle her and I peeked through the window to see her eyes still fixed on the door. Then, reassured that I didn’t represent any danger and was really gone, she resumed her nap.

She stayed there for quite a while, lazily changing her position from this way to that, sometimes stretching her entire length, other times curling up in an adorable furry ball with a white tipped paw pressed against her face.

And just as I didn’t see her come, I didn’t see her go. In her absence I thought about her repose and measured it against my own. Am I getting enough rest? Am I able to block out the cares of the world – even when they invade my space and I’m unsure of what they might mean or represent? Am I wise enough to be watchful, but not to let others startle me or disturb my composure?

Two scriptures that I have incorporated into my bedtime prayer are that I lay myself down in peace and safety and sleep, and that I will have peaceful, restful, undisturbed sleep. My feline friend certainly gave me a true picture of that kind of sleep today.

Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to go take a nap!

Today's Scriptures (NKJV):
Psalm 4:8 - I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Proverbs 3:24 - When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
0 Comments

    Author

    Carol Ross-Burnett is a dynamic singer, songwriter, author, speaker and professional workshop facilitator with a background and graduate degree in counseling.

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    April 2020
    September 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    June 2016
    March 2016
    November 2015
    May 2015

    RSS Feed

All rights reserved.
Copyright 2015-2022 Carol Ross-Burnett
P.O. Box 18426
Los Angeles, CA 90018
Proudly powered by Weebly