What's New Pussycat?
Over the last few months, I've noticed a scraggly looking cat wandering around our condo complex. After seeing how skinny it was, I mentioned it to Carl and he suggested that we buy some food and leave it out for the unkempt kitty.
We ended up at Central Market the other day and were pleased to find that they sell vegetarian pet food! It was serendipity because when we got home yesterday, I saw a silhouette under our neighbor's car...not to be crude, but it looked like a flattened feline because of how the meow-maker was wasting away. When I looked a little closer, I saw that it was okay and then ran upstairs to get a dish of food...
After returning with the nourishment, I spoke sweetly and moved slowly so my new furry friend wouldn't be scared away. Surprisingly, it just laid there while I came up right next to it. It seemed to be breathing heavily and was trying to meow but couldn't make any sound! So I poured some food right next to it and it immediately started chowing down like it was Thanksgiving at my Aunt's house. Realizing that cat cannot live on bread alone, Carl brought out a container of water, too.
We got home around 7pm tonight and Mr. or Mrs. Puddytat (I'm not sure which it is yet) was sitting under the neighbor's car again. I poured some more food and encouraged it to come over for dinner. It obliged and meowed the whole way across the lawn. I hope we become close friends.
***
And now it has me thinking, how many times have I passed by a metaphorical "hungry kitty"? How often do I see a person with a need, but assume someone else will take care of it?
A random, selfless act I hope to never forget happened this year. I was walking down a busy 6th Street on a freezing cold January night when I saw a homeless woman standing on the corner. A young man, probably in his early 20's was on his way somewhere quickly when he took off his gloves and handed them to the homeless lady. He didn't say a word, didn't stop his stride. The woman was so stunned that she was speechless for a moment before yelling out a heartfelt "thank you!!" to the good samaritan already half a block away.
If I were wearing gloves, would I have given them to her? Would you?
***
It's funny, my first instinct when approaching the cat yesterday was to speak gently to it, to comfort it. To make it feel like things are going to be okay. Sometimes that's the most impactful thing we can do.
Let love be your gloves.
We ended up at Central Market the other day and were pleased to find that they sell vegetarian pet food! It was serendipity because when we got home yesterday, I saw a silhouette under our neighbor's car...not to be crude, but it looked like a flattened feline because of how the meow-maker was wasting away. When I looked a little closer, I saw that it was okay and then ran upstairs to get a dish of food...
After returning with the nourishment, I spoke sweetly and moved slowly so my new furry friend wouldn't be scared away. Surprisingly, it just laid there while I came up right next to it. It seemed to be breathing heavily and was trying to meow but couldn't make any sound! So I poured some food right next to it and it immediately started chowing down like it was Thanksgiving at my Aunt's house. Realizing that cat cannot live on bread alone, Carl brought out a container of water, too.
We got home around 7pm tonight and Mr. or Mrs. Puddytat (I'm not sure which it is yet) was sitting under the neighbor's car again. I poured some more food and encouraged it to come over for dinner. It obliged and meowed the whole way across the lawn. I hope we become close friends.
***
And now it has me thinking, how many times have I passed by a metaphorical "hungry kitty"? How often do I see a person with a need, but assume someone else will take care of it?
A random, selfless act I hope to never forget happened this year. I was walking down a busy 6th Street on a freezing cold January night when I saw a homeless woman standing on the corner. A young man, probably in his early 20's was on his way somewhere quickly when he took off his gloves and handed them to the homeless lady. He didn't say a word, didn't stop his stride. The woman was so stunned that she was speechless for a moment before yelling out a heartfelt "thank you!!" to the good samaritan already half a block away.
If I were wearing gloves, would I have given them to her? Would you?
***
It's funny, my first instinct when approaching the cat yesterday was to speak gently to it, to comfort it. To make it feel like things are going to be okay. Sometimes that's the most impactful thing we can do.
Let love be your gloves.
posted by Beth Miner @ 10:27 PM
1 Comments:
At September 3, 2008 at 11:59 PM ,
Carl Miner said...
Thank you bride, for inspiring me to keep expanding my mind and heart. I've said this so many times before, but It's SOOOOO easy to find a reason to judge needy people (and kitties) and manufacture a reason as to why they don't deserve help. Maybe they are lazy, or crazy, or have simply lost the motivation to do great things with their life, but we haven't been given the luxury to judge them for that. God is never conditional with his love. We shouldn't be either. Thank you for reminding me of that every day.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home