April 23 2001
I tried to fight the tears but when I lost the fight
I knew where I had to go.
I went outdoors at almost midnight and stood at the spot where
my dad had buried our first dog Happy seven years ago this day.
I was overwhelmed with emotion remembering him and knowing he would
be soon be joined by our dog Tiger. It is Tiger’s time to be at peace.
I know Tiger will have someone he loves waiting for him in heaven,
his first owners Dorothy and Tony.
We adopted Tiger in 1995. They loved him very much.
Before Dorothy passed away her only request was that
Tiger be adopted into a good home.
As I prayed and let my tears flow I saw something at the end of
the driveway. It was a small black cat. She slowly pawed her way
around the bushes not knowing who I was or what I would do.
I kneeled down and called to her reassuring her I wouldn’t hurt her.
At first I thought she was a stray.
I had never seen her in the neighborhood before.
But she quickly came running up to my leg and nuzzled her ear
and body against it in affection.
I heard her meow softly and then start to purr.
I sat down in the middle of the driveway and started to pet her.
She even climbed into my lap and was very affectionate when I held
her to my cheek and cuddled her.
I knew God had sent her to me.
But I didn’t know how miraculous the gift would be until later.
I didn’t know if she was a stray or not but she became frightened
every time a car whizzed by and nuzzled me closer.
I decided to try to feed her. Since I’ve never owned a cat,
I wasn’t too sure what to start with milk or tuna fish.
I started with milk. She didn’t drink it so I tried water.
She didn’t like that choice either.
I knew she’d eat the tuna fish and sure enough she gobbled it
right down within a few minutes.
I didn’t know what to do with her.
If she belonged to someone in the neighborhood I didn’t want to
keep her and then turn her into the SPCA. But I didn’t want her to
stay outdoors all night and be cold and scared.
I knew feeding her might make her attached to me but to me,
it was the right thing to do.
I tried to walk her across the street to an abandoned house
but when I turned to come home she followed me home again.
So I sat down and cuddled with her some more.
My tears flowed again when I realized that I might have started
something I couldn’t finish with this adorable cat.
She may have even been a young kitten. She didn’t look very old.
As I hugged her I prayed that God would help her through the night.
I returned the empty tuna plate back inside and when I came back outside
she was sitting at the end of the driveway. I watched her for a few minutes
to see what she was going to do. She sat there quiet as could be.
When I packed my car to go home she didn’t follow me.
She just sat still. By the time I finished packing my car to go home,
she had disappeared as mysteriously as she had appeared.
As I drove home in tears I knew God had sent me a special gift.
She was my hero that night. Why this adorable and affectionate cat
had come and gone so mysteriously at just the right time in my life was
the true priceless gift of friendship only God could send.
His timing is always perfect.
He knows who to send and when.
Now it’s my chance to return one of God’s own…
back into His care.
Safe. Peaceful. Eternal.
**************************************************************
My Happy and my Tiger were always there for me.
Today is April 25 2001
Today is Tiger’s day of peace.
I love you Tiger.
Have a safe journey home!
Christina
| Christina |