Wednesday Whimsy - The Valentine Cat!

The Valentine Cat 

Kathy here: Five years ago my youngest son left home for military training. He was the last to leave the “nest”. After being a stay-at-home mom for many years, our house seemed awfully quiet. Two different people, my sister and a dear friend of mine, kept telling me I needed a cat to keep me company! While I enjoyed being around my sister’s cats, I was married to a card-carrying member of the Cat Haters Society. Well, okay, Jack wasn’t that bad, but he didn’t think cats were absolutely adorable the way I do. After telling my husband how badly I wanted a small dog or a cat—the decision was his, he decided a cat would be less work and we went to the local PetSmart where they host Last Chance Rescue. We went during the Valentine’s Day weekend. 

Here’s Lily’s alleged side of the story:

I had been waiting awhile to pick my humans. Being the runt I had to toughen up and not get pushed around by other cats. Consequently, there’s no love lost between me and my feline brothers and sisters.

What was that I heard them say to Doris*, one of the cat rescue ladies I was staying with? Mom looked so sad, actually rather pathetic, when she said she was looking for a lap cat. I licked my paws pretending not to listen. When I casually glanced at Mom, her eyes said, “I am looking for a gray tabby.” I could just tell from the way she studied me and the big old lug of a male cat in the cage next to mine. He was a gray tabby too. Besides, there is nothing quite so adorable as a gray tabby!

Me, relaxing up north, on vacation.

She asked to see me! When we went into the little “get acquainted” space, I ran over to one of the cat cages, stood on my hind legs and hissed for good measure. After that I was content to jump up on my mom-to-be’s lap first and then carefully charm the cat hater by placing my front paws on his lap. I could tell right then and there I had won her heart. His would take a little longer.

Just to seal the deal, when I was put back in my cage, a little girl was watching me, so I turned sad green eyes on her and she stared at me for a minute. Mom had that panic-stricken look as she observed our exchange. I was sure that I saw her lip quiver. No doubt she would be back next weekend for me. To my surprise, she called Doris that night and asked if she could bring me home the next day! Sure enough, that Sunday, her and Dad came to get me.

Me with one of my friends. "What's that, you say?"

When I arrived at my new home I took in the strange new smells. It smelled like people instead of cats! Mom took the pet carrier into the laundry room. She let me out and showed me the litter box. Ugh! Like I wouldn’t have found the sandbox eventually! Anyway, I squirmed out of her arms and hid behind the washing machine. She went in the other room and left me alone. I meowed. It was a big new world out there. Finally, I came out into the family room to say a tentative “hello”.  I wandered around, inspecting one room and then the next. To my surprise I made a most wonderful discovery. There were no other cats! I had just come from a house where I had lived with two-dozen others. (And they say cats can’t count.) Mom insists I was so happy I purred for nine days straight.

Would you believe I get
cranky sometimes?

Since then I’ve even managed to earn great affection from Jack and I have both of my humans quite well trained, though they often have to be reminded to fetch my treats or canned food at a specific time. They also take very good care of my house and make sure I have lots of toys to hoard and ignore as well as soft spots to sleep on. The big guy even puts bird feed out in the feeder, so I have birds to watch during the day. I guess I didn’t do such a bad job picking out my adopted mom and dad that fateful Valentine’s Day weekend five years ago.

Next month I will have to share the story of why they call me the "Tailless Wonder", or as I like to call it a “Tail of Woe” . . . or perhaps, “A Tale of No Tail”. Stay tuned!

*Not real name.

Time for a snooze.

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)

WEDNESDAY WHIMSY

Lilybits (photo courtesy of
my nephew, John Hensel)

I told Mom that I thought this should be called Lily’s Literary Corner, but she complained about the fact that it would limit her creativity and asked me, “What about people who don’t like cats?” As if! Who wouldn’t adore six pounds of gray tabby with big green eyes and a sweet purr? Besides, I try to say things like “mom” and “no”. I’m really good at the second one. Anyway, when Mom told me that I could do book reviews and author interviews sometimes, but she reserved the right to decide what gets posted, I found a discreet place on the living room couch to sharpen my claws.

I need to find something to do while Mom and Dad aren’t here to annoy, so I read. My first book review will be for Hearts Crossing by Marianne Evans.

Landscape architect, Daveny Montgomery, and high school English teacher, Collin Edwards, meet when he helps out during the landscaping around Woodland Church of Christ. Daveny wonders why he doesn’t go to church with his family. Collin is intrigued by the talented and hardworking Daveny.

Collin has been running from God, but the more time he spends with Daveny, the more he realizes he must face the bitterness a tragedy caused. Will Daveny wait on God and give Collin a chance? Will Collin open up to Daveny and look to God for healing? It’s a great story of hope for those who care about prodigals, at least that’s what Mom said.

The hero and heroine were compelling. I mean, I could almost feel their humanness. Ms. Evans gives her characters real depth and both Mom and I really enjoyed this novella. Even though cats weren’t integral to the plot and there’s no mention of eating grass as a delicacy, rather than just planting it, I give this story four paws up! (Since I don’t have opposable thumbs. Rats!)

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