Unicorn (Unicorn@Indenial.com)
Sun, 24 Jan 1999 08:44:32 -0500
Angels come in all shapes and sizes, don't they?
LadyHawke
~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Cat Angel"
by Clyta F. Harris, Ph.D., CPS <clyta@hti.net>
Copyright Clyta F. Harris. Reprinted with permission.
About twenty years ago, my husband left me with
three young children and a fourth on the way. I was
devastated and so lonely I was physically ill. I was in
a graduate program, working full time, and trying to
provide a secure home for my little ones. We had
sold our nice, large house and purchased a smaller,
not-so-nice one that I could afford on my salary.
As the weather got colder, we were plagued with a
family of mice. I was a mighty brave woman most of
the time, but the sight of a mouse sprinting across my
living room floor could make me tremble. My son and
I still laugh about the time I woke him up at 3am to help
me find and dispose of a mouse. I could hear it
scratching but could not find it. He found it in a small
waste basket, anxiously trying to climb the slick sides
and run for safety. Another night I awoke and in the light
from a street lamp saw a mouse sitting on my big toe
on top of the covers. I kicked as hard as I could, and I
never did know where that little critter landed.
After a couple of weeks of our nightly visitors, I went
into my living room just after dark and surprised not one
but five babies scurrying across the floor. I freaked!
I had known almost all my life that G-d cared for me,
but I had never thought to ask Him for help with my
problem. I raised my voice and my hands toward heaven
and pleaded, "Oh, G-d, please help me with this mouse
problem!" Now, I'm not sure I really believed He would,
but He had other ideas.
Within minutes of that plea, the doorbell rang. It was
a student that I had made arrangements with to drop off
a research paper I was going to type for him (another
way I helped to stretch the budget.) As I opened the door
to let him in, a large, lovely white and black cat sneaked
around the door and into my living room.
"Kitty cat," I said, "Are you the answer to my prayer
about the mouse problem?" I had never allowed an animal
to stay in my house, but I let the cat stay over night. The
next morning I let her out, and she went on her way. The
following evening I heard her meowing outside the front door.
Once again she spent the night in my house. This
happened daily for about two weeks. One night she did not
return to spend the night. Amazingly, neither did the mice!
We never spotted another sign of a mouse in the two
years we lived in that house. Nor did we ever see our
angel cat again.
Did G-d really send that cat? Was she an angel sent to
answer my prayer? Did G-d know that in my time of
weakness I needed Him to show me how much He cared
for even my "small" problems? I believe the answer to all
of those questions is "Yes!" G-d knows and cares and
meets our needs, sometimes in most unexpected ways.
~~~~~~~~~~
A footnote to this story: After 18 months, my husband
and I were reunited and next summer we will celebrate our
35th wedding anniversary. In many small ways, G-d
strengthened my faith as I believed for the return my husband.
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