When I entered the garage in preparing for the day’s work, I heard her crying, but she would not come to me. I wondered how she came to be in the garage. (Stephanie forgot to tell me until later.)
That evening I still could not coax her to leave the garage. It was not until the next day that I gained her confidence so as to lead her to the door. But she stood there, peering in all directions. She was afraid to go outside. My guess was that she had been dumped by someone and the other cats that frequent our property frightened her.
But I could not leave her in the garage. She would have no water and no food. So I stood outside and gently encouraged her to step out. Finally she did.
That evening, the neighbor was scolding his dog. She had squeezed through the fence, coming after little Smokey. Smokey had scaled about 15 feet up the power pole. After the dog was removed from her presence, she eased her way back down the pole. Then she followed me into our back yard.
The next day, seeing that she still had not left, I felt sorry for her and gave her some milk. But she was more interested in receiving attention. She did finally drink the milk when I added a tiny spoonful of salmon. I gave her some more milk that night, and Stephanie broke down and gave her some the next morning. I made her some oatmeal, not really cat food, but she ate it when I added about an eighth of a teaspoon of salmon juice to the milk. Stephanie gave me permission to buy her a small bag of kitten chow. I also prepared a makeshift shelter to protect her from the elements. When I pulled one of my old t-shirts from the rags bag and placed it inside, she went right in and took up residence inside.
She acted very happy. Stephanie was surprised to discover that when she fed her, all Smokey wanted was to be petted for as long as she was with her.
Two days later, the old green-gray cat came through the yard. Little Smokey was frightened. The old cat left without incident, but little Smokey watched for a long time.
That evening Smokey was not to be found. She has not returned.
Was she found? Did one of the neighbors take her in? Did the old cat or the neighbor’s dog catch her? It seems that we will never know.
Yet our hearts hurt. She was a “bright spot in our lives,” as Stephanie says.
We have had many such hurts, especially regarding those who called us brethren. Yet, how can we regret having had the opportunity to enjoy closeness, even for only a little while. God’s blessings continue to flow to us each and every day. In this age, such blessings all are temporary. Even our earthly family members are temporary gifts. None of these gifts are the basis for lasting happiness. Whenever anyone looks to such things, which the Lord Jesus calls mammon, we find that they cannot fulfill our needs. They are blessings nonetheless. Yet they are only temporal blessings. This is why we are commanded not to trust in them nor to love them too strongly. We especially are commanded not to worry regarding these many blessings that the Lord bestows upon us. The blessings are given from His love, His all sufficient and everlasting love. They all come from Him and our proper reception of them is as the outflow of His love. When we are mindful of this, we remain mindful of the one thing needful. Then we enjoy the blessings in the peace that surpasses all understanding and our hearts and minds are guarded in Christ Jesus.
All things have this wonderful lesson connected to them. Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good, and His mercy endures forever. Amen.
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