SHADOW AND PRINCESS STORIES
When I say "they," I am referring to Shadow and Princess. I have mentioned them before, but I have not introduced you to them. Since they will be appearing in my RAMBLING THOUGHTS from time to time, it might be well to know that they were two homeless kittens. A year ago in September, while on her way to a Ladies Meeting at Church, my wife saw something in the middle of the rural road. She thought it was a squirrel, but as she drew near and slowed to a stop, she discovered it was two kittens. As she got out of the car and walked to them (Don’t worry she was safe as it wasn’t rush hour--rush hour is when three or more cars go by in an hour) they did not run away. She brought them home to care for them. Now, nearly a year and a half later they think they care for us and know that they rule the house.
In mid-December, as my wife walked from the bedroom to the kitchen to fix the morning coffee, she glanced into the living room where the cats were playing as they often do. HOWEVER, this time they were playing with a mouse. Not a toy mouse. A real mouse. As she watched, they let the mouse get away and flee behind and under a bookcase. The cats patrolled the bookcase until they thought it was time for their breakfast. I guess they thought it was better to get a sure thing from their dish rather than wait to see when and where the mouse would emerge. We had seen mouse evidence behind the washer and dryer in the utility room, so it was not a big surprise.
A few weeks later my wife left on a trip and all was going well. I was here at the computer typing away as darkness fell. The lights here in the study were the only ones that I had turned on. Behind me I heard a soft "meow" and as I looked at the clock I told Princess and Shadow that I would get their supper in a minute.
I finished the paragraph I was working on and backed my chair away from the desk. As I was turning the wheelchair so I could go through the doorway, there on the floor was a big mouse in excellent condition, dead, but in excellent condition. Shadow and Princess had evidently left the room after the "meow" so I called them. They came to the door. I said, "Thank you." Now I know cats don’t smile, but I think they almost did. They let me dispose of the mouse. They didn’t try to take it away from me, even though they were hungry. This was their gift to me and what a GREAT gift it was. I am just glad they they did not choose to give it to me during the night by dropping it on my pillow.
I had often heard that cats will do this as a way of saying thank you for feeding us and caring for us. Even outside cats will leave a dead mouse by the door near their food dish. You know it causes me to wonder if I would be willing to give up such a PRECIOUS gift so that someone else could have it? My God did when "He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
THANK YOU GOD. Thank you Shadow and Princess.
God’s Peace. See You At The House.
01/16/07
THE CAT WOULDN’T COME - A SHADOW AND PRINCESS LESSON
Shadow and Princess are now nearly a year and a half old and are slowly growing out of their kitten antics. Note I said slowly and not completely. During these often trying times, Shadow has taught me a lesson. When my wife is away from home either at a meeting or traveling as she visits our children and grandchildren, Shadow seems to know that I can’t get to her when she jumps to the top of my car, the top of a bookcase, or to a high shelf. She has also learned to open cupboards and break front doors that she can reach. Once the door is open, the shelves seem to say to her, "Jump up here." She knows that from my wheelchair, I can’t reach her. When this happens. I have a tendency to yell at her, threaten her, or maybe even try to reach her with a cane or a broom. She will cower and move back as far away from me as she can, and I can’t get her to come down. I think she senses that I am mad at her.
After a short time, I do calm down and leave her where she is. I return to whatever I was doing, and it isn’t long before I hear a soft, "meow." I look down and there is Shadow, looking up at me with pleading eyes. I turn my wheelchair just a little and immediately she jumps up on my lap knowing that I will pet her and forgive her. I know this, even though at the same time I am expecting her to do the same thing again.
Why can’t I be like Shadow? Why can’t you? Read over my true story of Shadow again. This time as you read, where I refer to Shadow, insert your name and when I refer to myself, insert the name of God. There is one sentence you will have to delete: "When this happens. I have a tendency to yell at her, threaten her or maybe even try to reach her with a cane or a broom." This has to be deleted because God does not get mad at me when I sin; maybe disappointed, but not mad. If Shadow can come to me without fear to receive a caressing pet, why is it so hard for me to go to God to receive His assurance that He Loves me?
GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.
02/08/07
