Wednesday Whimsy - Lilybit's Tail of Woe

Lilybits finding the right place to sit before she does her
blog post. 

First, I want to say, “thanks” to my 

cousin Harley for doing a fine job 

helping me out last Wednesday.
Now I must begin my tale of no tail as I promised I would. 

Once upon a time . . .

I can’t quite remember what happened the first time I hurt my tail, being in a bit of shock from the pain. But I think it was a nasty door my poor tail was slammed in. After I lost the end of my tail I had phantom pains, which made me mad. The rescue lady decided I should go to the vet, who removed an offending piece more than once. It was terrible!

I really used to have a tail--at least
a partial one!

Finally I was well enough to take to Last Chance Rescue events. After my adopted mom brought me home, I seemed fine. Then she gave me catnip and I was jumping all over the place like a wild kitten. Wouldn’t you know, I bumped the end of my tail on the wall quite hard and it started hurting again.

The next day while Mom was at the computer I hissed and made her jump. Then I began chasing my tail, round and round until I could give it a good bite! Unfortunately it didn’t help. After my tail started to bleed and wasn’t getting better, Mom took me to the veterinarian—the last place I wanted to go.

My tail had become infected. After trying topical pain relief and medicine to make the infection go away, I only healed up temporarily. When it started to bother me again, I wanted to tell Mom, but the best I could do was bite it and the trouble started all over again.

The vet suggested removing the tail down to a stump, which Mom felt badly about, but they weren’t sure what else to do. They took me in that March, about five years ago, and left me over night. My surgery and recovery could be a whole other story in itself, but I don’t think you want to hear about that.

But I will tell you there’s a happy ending to my tail, pardon the pun. The surgical site healed up well and the fur on my behind grew back. I thought things seemed a little strange at first. Jumping atop the high bookcase in the family room was a bit of a trick! However, now I do very well with balancing and I don’t have any more phantom pains! I am a happy little cat! And, might I add, beautiful even without that usually prized appendage.

Tail-less, but regal!

And that is how I became Lilybits, the Tail-less wonder! The End—no pun intended.

SATURDAY SPIRITUAL UPLIFT

 A Little Girl’s Prayer

When I was around 10 years old I was introduced to a gray tabby kitten. Its big green eyes, soft warm fur, affection and sweet playfulness charmed me. I went home to my parents and asked them to let me bring him home. I begged and begged, but to no avail. Mom and especially, Dad, figured that though I promised to take care of the cat, they would ultimately wind being responsible for it. Though I begged God to help me out at that point, the answer was still, “no”.

I’d had goldfish and gerbils, but I was growing up by myself, since my brother and sister were already out of the house. Having a cute little cat seemed like the perfect solution to the loneliness. As time passed, I took up residence at Michigan State University, eventually married and started a family.

My days were filled with caring for my sons as they grew, homemaking and eventually homeschooling. My desire for the little gray striped kitten was long forgotten, like a childhood book closed and shelved for many years. When the boys were still young, we went to look at a litter of kittens, but my husband wasn’t crazy about the idea.

When the youngest of my sons left for Army basic training, my days of being needed as a full time mother were officially over. I was used to having someone else around. Each morning I awoke to an empty, silent house. Even after I had returned to school, I felt isolated. Looking for a job turned up dead ends and my time volunteering at Bible study only filled so much of my time. Even Jack said the house seemed as quiet as a tomb.

My sister had a cat named Tigger, a sleek and handsome gray tabby, who would sit near me when I visited. He evoked the memory of the kitten I had once wanted so badly. However, I had married a man who once had an allergic reaction to cats. Jack had grown up with dogs and I was almost sure he was an official card carrying member of “The Cat Haters Society”. It seemed I was doomed to a cat-less life. Two cat lovers who are dear to me insisted that I needed one to keep me company and help fill the maternal void.

I had secretly prayed on and off that some forlorn little feline would appear at our patio door and I could convince Jack that God had sent us a cat. Finally, I appealed to Jack that I needed another living creature around during the day.

Being merciful, Jack approved and we went to Last Chance Rescue, where I asked for a lap cat. The rescue worker pointed out a little gray cat with black and brown stripes. We took her into a sheltered area to get acquainted. She stood on my lap and reached her front paws across to Jack’s. I knew I’d found the right kitty. My husband survived the two-week trial period and the petite cat, no bigger than a kitten and nearly as playful, had wriggled her way into our hearts.

Photo courtesy of my nephew, John Hensel

I named her Lily-bits, because she is just a little bit of a thing. She became my buddy, following me around much of the time and sitting on my lap when she deems necessary. That desire for a gray tabby kitten had been placed in my heart when I was only 10 years old. Thirty-eight years later God answered that prayer and a cat that needed a home was provided with one. It explains why Lily is so special to me, though she is only a pet.

The Lord’s timing isn’t always our timing. In fact, most often it’s not. Often the answer is “no” and we have to ask for the grace to accept that. But when a prayer is answered the way we hoped, we can be assured the Lord will make it worth our wait. He hears His children’s prayers and cares about the big and little things in our lives. He cared about this little girl’s prayer and He cares for you!

Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful (Psalm 69:16 NLT)

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. (Psalm 37:4 NLT)