Soft, cuddly bunnies once graced our house. Our daughter loves animals, and she took good care of them, learning all about their needs; from something hard to chew to keep the teeth from getting too long, to how to stroke them into a calm, relaxed state. She started with two females. Or so we thought. Then they multiplied … like rabbits!
The babies escaped, and the neighborhood chase was on. “Quick like a bunny” is no exaggeration. They have remarkable speed and the ability to squeeze themselves into very small spaces. Our sheltie, a herding dog, loved the rare excitement of the chase.
At one point we cornered a rabbit under our son’s VW Rabbit pickup—one he called his bunny truck! Several of us surrounded the small pickup, and finally someone with longer arms than mine managed to reach under and grab the errant bunny.
Pets give back, but they also require care and understanding of their needs. As delightful as they are, there are key things to learn and give attention to. Like how to determine the sex of the animal.
And you know what? It’s important in relationships to know how to feed them, too, and how to keep things from growing the wrong way. Even with the joy of exchanges and shared activities, upkeep is necessary.
Inner circle or not, the care and feeding of a relationship depends on the level. Inner-circle people take greater intentionality to keep things smooth. Was there a slight misunderstanding? Address the issue, apologize, and let go of pride.
Love requires a certain amount of work, as do bunnies. But it’s worth the effort and attention.
God’s love for me is like bunny love—soft, cuddly, caring.
