This post first appeared on the MBT Ponderers Blog July 15, 2010
Summertime in Mississippi means hot temperatures and air so thick you can stir it with a spoon. Last Friday was no exception. By ten a.m., you could fry sausage on the sidewalk. Ignoring the heat, I drove to the local Dollar General to buy a couple of birthday cards.
I left with a kitten.
The.kitten.I’m.not.keeping.
I’d heard the loud mews when I entered the store, but couldn’t locate the source. Still heard the mews when I came out and got into my car, but again, didn’t see anything that resembled a kitten. Not that I tried very hard.
When I pulled out into the street, for some odd reason I glanced back at the store. And right where my car had been parked squatted a pitiful, black and white kitten struggling to get to its feet. My heart sank. The temperature on the pavement had to be at least 110 degrees.
I turned around and went back, found a box and took the kitten home. To die, I thought. But at least it wouldn’t be on a hot parking lot. By mid-afternoon both of the kitten’s eyes had swollen shut. She wouldn’t eat or drink so I fed her soy milk and water with a dropper. I didn’t expect her to be alive when I awoke the next morning.
She surprised me. She even had one eye opened. I posted the kitten’s story to the Ponderers–my writing friends and the other contributors on this blog. Immediately a cry went up to name her. Something with Ponder in it and of course, Susie May…
Noooo! I can’t name this.kitten.I’m.not.keeping..
By afternoon she even drank a little soy milk from a saucer. She seemed most comfortable when I held her. So, I held her, and she wrapped her paws around my wrist. And I prayed for this little creature God had created. Bit by bit, she improved and wrapped her little paws around my heart.
This morning as I talked with God, I asked Him why He put this kitten in my life. He knows I travel a lot, and I’m too busy for a cat. His answer came immediately. Joy. I gave her to you that you may have joy.
May Ponder (named after Susan May Warren and the Ponderers) will be called Mazie, because as Susie May says, “Every heroine needs a nickname.” Mazie is also short for Amazing Grace-it’s the only reason she’s here.
P. S. It is now almost 2 years later. Mazie turned out to be a boy, but the name stuck (Kinda like A Boy Named Sue) And here’s a recent photo of him.
You know this story is going to end up in a book, don’t you?
Have you ever started out with one mind-set and ended up with a totally different one? Leave a comment, telling me your story.
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Comments 23
She’s a big boy now!
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Thanks for stopping by, Patricia. Can’t wait for the Yard Sale to come out!
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Yes she is! Took him to the vet and he weighs 16 lbs. Needless to say he’s on a diet.
Sixteen pounds! Now you tell Bryan to “cool it” with the edible bribery. Enjoyed Mazie’s (and your) story again, Pat.
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Yeah, Bryan’s the culprit. He started feeding Mazie so the cat would like him. 16 pounds of like. lol Thanks for stopping by, Cheryl!
I love this story. God chose this kitten especially for you. What a big boy he’s turned out to be!
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God did do that! Took him to the vet last week…he’s still mad and not speaking to me…or maybe because I’ve cut his food. Reckon he knows it’s me that did that? Thanks for stopping by Johnnie!
Amazing story Pat. Makes me want to be a cat. My mindset about blogging totally shifted. I really didn’t want to add one more thing to my to-do list. I felt it was laborious. Unnecessary. Even foolish.
Today I LOVE to connect with friends all around the world through the blogosphere. It’s amazing!
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And I’m glad I’m one of those friends, Reba! Thanks for stopping by.
Reminds me of the kitten I found on the yellow line on Highway 72 in front of AutoZone.
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Oh, Mary. Did you have that same, I don’t want to see this feeling? And, I-really-don’t-want-to-take-this-kitty-home feeling? So glad you stopped by.
Pat, I love this story. I’m so glad the Lord blessed you with Mazie. What better pet to have when you travel often than a cat? So much easier to leave alone than a dog.
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Absolutely, Renee. And because Bryan encouraged me to keep Mazie, guess who gets to feed him while I’m gone? With the admonishment of not to feed him too much. lol
So glad you stopped by!
Aww, Mazie! So fun to hear about her again. 🙂 And yes…so, so often in life I’ve started out with one mindset and completely changed. I used to say I never wanted to be a newspaper reporter…and then I was and loved it. In college, when encouraged by profs and friends to study abroad, I said I didn’t want to leave campus, loved it too much….then I studied abroad and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. When I lived up in NW Iowa, I said I never wanted to move to a bigger town…now I’m in Des Moines and I’m doing just fine! I think God has a good laugh whenever I say “never.”
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I’ve learned never to say never (as the old cliche goes) But look where all you different opportunities have taken you! Sometimes I want to be you. ;>) Thanks for stopping by Melissa.
Hi Pat, such a touching story. Well, saying I’ll never . . . has led to a lot of situations in which God had other plans. Like, Okay God. I’ll do it. None of those involved a pet, sad to say.
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Glad you liked my story about Mazie, Paula. And yes, I have a LOT of plans that God has seen fit to gently (and not so gently) nudge me in a different direction!
Hehe, I remember how adamant you were about not keeping Mazie. So glad to hear he is bringing much joy to your life!
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Lisa, I think you were one of the first to recognize I’d be keeping Mazie. He does bring joy, but I quickly realized the difference between cats and dogs. Dogs have owners. Cats have staff. lol
Mazie is so big! It was interesting to re-read this today, because yesterday I watched this video of the cutest little newborn kitten, and just thought how God makes the best things and it really did bring me joy to watch it. Did I tell you we recently lost both of our cats? One disappeared (prob dead) and the other got sick on the same day and had to be put to sleep. We had them for almost 20 years, and they did bring us lots of smiles and joy 🙂
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Jenny, I’m so sorry about your cats. And aren’t kittens the cutest little things. Thanks for stopping by!
Yes, I remember one night the boys and I had the mindset to go up to the line to get a beer. At the ms/tn stateline sat an alcorn county sheriff patrol car, instantly my mindset changed to an opposite direction!
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Which was a VERY.Good.Thing.