As a self-appointed “Paw-Paw” to my son Michael’s live-in cats, Lando Catrissian and Neville Fuzzybottom, my son Nathan’s two dogs Winston and Oliver, and my daughter Ruthie’s dog, Ernest Barknine (Ernie), our home is a study in peaceful coexistence. The cats are inside our home 24/7 and Ernie visits us every Sunday.
Lando and Neville prefer quiet routines and elevated perches. Ernie arrives full of bouncy, unfiltered energy. On paper, this dynamic shouldn’t work. Yet every Sunday, they figure it out. They don’t demand that the others change species. Ernie respects cat boundaries (except he likes to eat their food), and the cats tolerate puppy enthusiasm (most of the time). They simply share space, grant grace, and coexist peacefully.
In a world—and a country—currently struggling to accept diversity, our furry family offers a timely lesson. Inclusion isn’t about erasing our differences or forcing everyone into the same mold. It’s about pulling up a chair (or a dog bed), respecting distinct ways of being, and practicing radical welcome. If a puppy dog and two cats can build a harmonious community, surely we can too.
Shalom, Paul