TGIF

Miss Kitty had just started eating her breakfast when the tailless white cat nervously sprung through the door .

The tail challenged feline went straight to Missy’s bowl, nudged her head out of her way, and started chowing down on the legal owners Friskies.

I expected a swift swat or fifty to begin raining down on the brazen interlopers head, but instead, Miss Kitty took on calm step back and watched what had been her breakfast disappear.

I went to retrieve another can of cat food and by the time I returned the little coon cat from down the street was cleaning up whatever the white cat had left behind.

Miss Kitty sat and watched, seemingly unperturbed by either the thieves or her own hunger.

I found this disconcerting, as I believed she had to the right to be first in all things feline.

How…could she be so gracious?

Why…do I find such grace strange…and even offensive?

As I thought about this I surmised that the only reason all these stray cats know where to find food is because Miss Kitty told them.

She had invited them to share the good things that she herself had found many years ago…when another cat told her where the milk and Friskies flowed.

She evidently has never forgotten that once she was hungry and unloved until my dearly departed Squeek brought her home.

She remembers that when she arrived here, she arrived with an ill temper and worse manners.

She was fed and loved until she became the graceful and gracious lady of the house.

She remembers…

She’s also confident in her owner.

She’s never been hungry for a minute since she arrived…there’s always been enough.

There has been dry food, wet food, and even the occasional treat.

When the crowd of cats gets too large, her master separates her out to eat on his bed and sits with her so she can dine undisturbed.

She doesn’t have to fight.

She doesn’t have to grasp.

She doesn’t have to worry.

She knows her master and she  knows her master loves her very much and has always and will always make sure she’s taken care of.

She can be gracious because she’s found grace.

She remembers.

She knows.

I forget.

I fear.

She’s more faithful than I am to what she remembers and knows…and that’s why I take offense when the cat shows me up.

Make your own application…