Shut Your Mouth, Kitty Cat, I’m Trying To Talk
When my youngest grandson was around three or four years old, he said something that the entire family still laughs about. It was one of those rare moments when all my children and grandchildren were all under one roof. As you can imagine, with a house full of people, it can get very loud. Everyone is always talking at once, and they keep getting louder so they can be heard.
My grandson was sitting in his mom’s lap and watching everyone talking and laughing. They were all out by the pool, and one of their cats walked over to sit in the shade of the chair. The cat started meowing, trying to get someone to pet it. Since everyone was talking, they didn’t pay any attention to the cat. The cat kept meowing and refused to give up on getting some attention. Little man decided to join the conversation, but the cat must have been bothering him. All at once, my grandson belted out, “Shut your mouth, Kitty Cat, I’m trying to talk!”
Anytime all my kids are together, you can bet someone is going to say this at least once or twice during the trip. If I’m honest, there have been times when I would have liked to have said it to people who keep yapping while I’m trying to watch TV, work, or listen to someone speaking. There have also been times when someone would like to say it to ME.
You have probably read the story of Samuel. His mother had begged the Lord for a child for years. In desperation, she promised the Lord that if He gave her a child, she would dedicate it to the Lord’s work. The Lord answered her prayers and gave her a son named Samuel, which means “heard by God.”
Samuel’s mother kept her promise to the Lord and took Samuel to Eli, the priest of Shiloh. Eli took in Samuel and trained him to serve the Lord.
As Samuel grew, he served in the house of the Lord under the guidance of Eli the priest. One night, as Samuel lay down to sleep, he heard a voice calling his name. Samuel thought it was Eli, so he went to him and asked him what he needed.
This happened three times before Eli figured out that it was the Lord calling Samuel. He told Samuel to go back to bed and, if he heard the voice again, to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
1 Samuel 3:7-11
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.
All of our lives are filled with noise and distractions, and it’s easy to miss the voice or the whispers of God. I have longed to “hear” the Lord speak to me verbally, but that has never happened. Instead, His voice comes as a prompting, a feeling, a phrase I hear repeatedly, or something as silly as watching TV.
While I’m so caught up in my everyday life, I can easily overlook the Lord talking to me. I might pray to have him speak, but do I ever hush up long enough for Him to be heard?
When I pray at night, I have a request that I often put in my prayers. It is for the Lord to open my ears, my eyes, and my heart so that I can recognize the Lord’s “voice,” even if it isn’t spoken verbally. So, like Samuel, I’m asking, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” I just hope He’s not saying, “Shut your mouth, Kitty Cat, I’m trying to talk.”
To GOD Goes The Glory!
Have A Blessed Day!
Great story about your grandson and the kitty. His grandmother is pretty funny, too! But you know our Lord would never think to say to you, “Shut your mouth kitty cat!”😉. Thanks for the great reminder to listen for the Lord to speak to us.
Thank you for sharing your fun story and your devotion too. I needed this reminder today, to be still (be quiet) and KNOW that He is God. He’s got my whole situation in His hands. He is BIG ENOUGH. I am not. I need to stop and listen to Him today. He will bring the peace I need.
thank you again and God bless.
In 2005, I found out the baby I was carrying had a birth defect that he wouldn’t survive. I named him Samuel because I’d prayed for him and knew I would have to give him back to God. So the story of Hannah always touches me.
Oh, Tania, that is precious! I will definitely remember to “shut my mouth, Kitty Cat” so that I can hear the Lord speak to me.
Cute story about your grandson. Good message. I like the last sentence too. 😊
Thank you for sharing this. I love this post. I think we all need to tell that kitty cat to hush so we can hear what’s being said😀
A great prayer, especially for when I prepare for sleep. I desire for God to invade my dreams.
Thanks for sharing your story today. I too need to stop and listen more for the Lord. I enjoy your blog and your words of encouragement.
I love it! I’m going to remember “kitty cat”, and listen for the Lord. And for when I am the kitty çat when others need to speak.
Beautiful story. Sometimes we are talking too much in our prayers that we don’t stop long enough to hear God speaking. I know I’m guilty of that, so I too say “Speak Lord your servant is listening .
Oh how I needed this today. I’m praying for the Lord to show me where He wants me to worship, as I sense that I need a new church. I need to be quiet and listen more than ever.
It would benefit me to listen to God more than always making my jaws move. He speaks to me even through all of the birds we have, which is one reason I love feeding them.
Thanks for your post again today.
Yes, I do want to hear from the Lord.
This story about your grandson and the kitty cat is priceless. Thanks for sharing. I also appreciate your beautiful story about the scripture from Samual and how you wish about it. I think many of us have tat same feeling Tania! You know it’s a small world. Many of us share the same feelings about scripture and kitty cats ❤️ I really enjoy reading your blog every day. Thanks so much for adding a smile to my day. Bless you!
I’m so glad you liked the post!
Love this!!
I ask the Lord to guide me daily.
Thank you for sharing this.
What a wonderful Bible story to remind us to be quiet to hear God’s voice.
I love this testimony and thank you for sharing. I have heard the voice of God a couple of times in my life. Not audibly but once I heard it when I was sound asleep. I sat up in bed thinking what???? I heard it in my head saying don’t worry about the lump on your arm pit it’s fine. I was going to my surgeon to have it removed and it had crossed my mind it could be bad news. But then I praised God and thanked him and went sound to sleep knowing all was good. PTL❣️
I had a moment like that. It was when my son was in the emergency room, and I was so scared that I was shaking. All at once, I felt this overwhelming peace and I just knew everything was going to be fine. I quit shaking, and calmed down. Everything was fine, just like I know the Holy Spirit told me.
I’ve always loved the story of Samuel!
Thank you Tania, I needed to hear that story.
Thank you, Tanya!
Tania, did this ever speak to me. My morning prayer always ends with “lord, help me to slow down long enough to see the signposts you are leaving for me to follow today”.
Thank you for this reminder ~ Donna
so true! thanks for the encouragement.
Thank you for your post
I always look forward to your Sunday
It’s uplifting and always gives me something to think about😊
Oh, how appropriate for me. I often have to remind myself to listen for the Lord and to be silent so that I can hear Him.
This was one of my favorite readings from when I was a little girl. Thanks for reminding me of it! I really enjoyed your post today!
Love the lesson and love the way you put it!
Great lesson -Listen!
Love this message! So timely for me today. Thanks, Tania!
Boy, do I need to take this lesson and apply too— it in my own house, with gmy own husband! I haven’t been listening and I need to do better 😊
Thanks Tanya!
Hello Tania!
Thank you again for a great Sunday post…I know you are ” listening” to the Lord’s voice…as you always come up with a beautiful story.
Well, you did it again! What a WONDERFUL post! I absolutely love how you tied the two stories together! You truly have a gift!!! Happy Sunday❤🙏❤
❤️
great lesson, listen
It is Sunday morning. Thank you for the story of Samuel…I feel like I got a sermon without leaving the comfort of my bed…I also enjoyed your own story of your grandson, for it is very true that we carry out our daily lives and forget to be mindful of the Lord and his many blessings…thank you for the reminders…and as my very spiritual grandmother would often say, “Peace…Be Still”. What a way to start my day….Vickie
So true. We need to listen more
I so love your devotion to God! It is very refreshing to find a blogger who is in this world, but not of this world! Have a blessed day
Oh, Tania, you must have been thinking exactly what my husband and I have been discussing just recently, we are “hearing” each other, but not “listening” due to all the distractions: kids, phones, TV (especially FB!) and other daily noise. I love your grandson’s reply! I am now going to use your prayer ideas to add to my prayers to help me open my eyes, ears and heart to listen for his voice. Thanks for the cute story.
Joe just looked at me and said, “you weren’t listening, were you?” Nope, I wasn’t!
Your grandson made a good point that we should use daily.
Wonderful story with a twist! I live all of your posts.
Funny story and yes that is my prayer!
We could all learn from Samuel.
I always look forward to your post.
Thank you.
This touched home as my daily prayer is for God to tell me what to do! Give me some guidance. It’s not easy to listen. If only it were that simple.
Love this story. I will now from this day on ask the Lord the same.
I never know what to buy at Anthropologie
I loved this. Have a blessed day
Love your grandson’s comment! We also have a big loud family! I need to remember to be quiet and listen for the Lord more often. Great lesson
It was so funny since he was so young.
Thank you for the timely reminder Tania
Really needed to hear this scripture!! I think maybe I speak too much, too loud— I need to shut up kitty cat and listen and be open!! Thank you!!
Cute Story! Love the truth of the Samuel scripture, Enjoying your post! So glad I found you!
A lovely verse today appropriate for a noisy world.
Wonderful message today Thank you for doing your Sunday prayer!
You are such a good writer & teacher Tania .. I learn something from you every week whether fashion, beauty or spiritual. Thank you! 💕
Frani, that is so sweet of you to say!
Great story and application!
Thank you for this-it’s EXACTLY what I needed today!
Love love love your post today! It made me laugh and gave me something to think about!!
It never fails that someone will say that several times when we are all together.
Enjoyed your comments. Food for thought.
Thanks for sharing! Speaks volumes! lol! But , seriously, I too need to slow down and listen!
Me, too! I always have a long to-do-list, and I forget to just sit and listen.
Yes! To God goes the glory! Amen ❤️
Cute story about your Grandson! I’m sure the Lord speaks and we’re too busy running our mouths! A wonderful Post ✝️
Sweet story 😂. Thanks for sharing.
I enjoy your Sunday posts. Thank you for sharing.
I work in retail, I will definitely be saying in my head “ Shut up kitty cat!
Lol!
Thanks for sharing the story of Samuel. I could certainly do better in the listening department. I love that you have a fun family story and a cute one at that!!
I tend to do a lot of talking, and say, “huh,” way too often.
I love your message today to remind me to be better at blocking out all the noises and thoughts that can be overwhelming, and instead to pay more attention to the subtle messages He sends me. Thank you. 🩷
Susan, that is my struggle to.
I love your family’s story! I am sure there are times the Lord – and others! – would like to say the same thing to me! Have a blessed week!
Oh what those little ones say!
Thank you
I love this story of Samuel.
I have the same problem as you my mind is going in 10 different directions and rarely do I sit still long enough to hear the lord.
Thanks for sharing a bit of your family great story.
Sandy