TGIF
Some of you know by now that my beloved friend Miss Kitty has cancer.
Treatment would be exorbitantly expensive and may kill her anyway, so we’re treating her with hemp oil and an ointment for her eye.
I lay hands on her and pray.
In this season where it seems that we all live in the far north where there is never any light, my darkness has grown even darker by the lengthening shadow of her impending death.
There is a place in our souls where when it’s been dark for too long, light seems painful…that place is created when we’re too tired to seek light that can be found.
I dwell among those so weary.
Miss Kitty is responding differently than I am.
She knows she is not well… she can’t see out of one eye and her treatments cause her stress.
Still, she’s making the most of her time.
She gets unlimited one on one time with me now as she’s restricted to the house.
She loves to sit with me while I work and she sleeps with me , holding paws all night until she wakes me up for breakfast.
She purrs more and more easily than she did before.
She has poured herself into our friendship, making the most of the time we have.
She has joy.
Someday soon, we will have to take one more trip out of the house and she won’t return home with me.
I fear that day more than any scenario of hell I have ever imagined.
However, I will not be taking her to die, I will be taking her to a place where she transfers to our new home that has been made for us…a place not made with hands… where the tears I’m already crying will be wiped away and cancer has no place.
I’ll just be sending her ahead to wait for me and know she’ll be well cared for…very well cared for.
For now, I’m going to try to imitate her.
She knows it’s dark and getting darker.
There is joy in her darkness.
She can’t see well, but she sees the light.
She seeks the light.
She makes the light.
She loves the light.
Make your own application…
my heart breaks for you…our fur children mean so much to us and I know that her love for you means more to you than anything else…if our hearts did not break for these God has given us to care for, how can we expect ourselves to have compassion and empathy for others in difficult times and stresses. God’s love manifests itself to us in our fur children and that love is eternal…bless you and Miss Kitty
I am sorry about Miss Kitty. Few things are off limits for me. I talk religion and politics when no one else will do it. But I don’t talk pets, not really. The emotions they engender only get me into a pickle.
Few things matter more than hope. It makes life bearable and death confrontable, Peace to you good sir.
Thanks, Cathy…I know you get it…
BD,
Thank you…and the line about hope is gold…
God has graced you with a wise and loving friend and He’s used her as His instrument for you in so many ways. And through her life, His Spirit has instructed us and revealed many things to us about Himself and how He views us. What a wonderful legacy she will leave. “O death, where is thy sting?” The sting is in our grief. But we do not grieve as ones with no hope. Surely, a creation of God like her will live forever. And yes, you will wait to be with her again…but it will happen. I truly believe that. Much love to you Michael and Miss Kitty. 😢
Thank you, Mike…I believe that there will be a reunion someday…I believe that with all I’ve got…
Oh Michael. Even in her illness Miss Kitty is still teaching us. How my heart breaks for you. And us.
Pam…thank you, my friend…
Michael, I love your connection to your friend.
I love this line from Shawshank
“I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.”
I hope we never lose hope.
The Lord be with you Michael in a special way with your unique friend. Though I’m currently just a dog person, when younger I have been a cat’s best friend. He used to follow us when we toilet papered houses so he could chase the paper trails.
Michael,
I just thought of something. Hebrews 13:2 says the following, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
Miss Kitty was a stranger (you did not pick her up at the pet store AFAIK). So perhaps Miss Kitty’s assignment is wrapping up…..God has seen you display this hospitality to Miss Kitty and many others both 2 and 4 legged.
I’m so sorry Michael. I share your hope in reunion, and I’m grateful to God for this time that you two have together.
Oh my. Life’s worst. I am sorry. Tears. You’ve given her a life of love and she has reciprocated. I know you will savor the time you have with her until it’s time to set her free. Thank you for being a good cat guy.
Praying for your & Miss Kitty. It is so very hard to loose a furry friend. May you both have peace.
Thanks for all the kind words folks…
I’m so sorry Michael. The pain of losing an innocent, loving furry companion seems unbearable. May the Lord of all comfort carry you both through.
Thank you, Joel!
May the love that the Lord has gifted you and Miss Kitty with, carry you thru her last days, her loss and into new meadows of spiritual refreshment and restoration.
Thank you, my friend…we’ll get through.
I’m so sorry Michael…our pets are everything to us and it hurts us when they suffer. You’ve given Miss Kitty a good life and she has loved you in return. What a wonderful exchange…
Indeed…thank you, Linnea…
This got me 😢. I know that pain and that journey all too well 💔. I’m praying for you and miss kitty. May your days together be rich, long and abundant still. Kitties and their friendship is one of the greatest gifts the Lord gives. You are right. The journey of their home going and the absence thereafter on this side of eternity, is an excruciating pain too deep and wide for adequate description. And you are also correct that we don’t send them to die, but to go on ahead,to save us a seat, in the place of no more sorrow or tears. Where the joy we experienced with them here will pale in comparison to the joy we will behold there. 💕
God’s grace, mercy and comfort be with you in these precious days 💕