As Elaine walked by, the litter of feral kittens scattered, all but one. This one was too weak and sick to run away from the humans. Elaine bent down and picked up the five-week-old baby. The kitten was barely clinging to life. Her body covered in fleas. Her eyes were “goopy,” which was a sign of infection. Her tongue was white, and her little body was cold, a sign of severe illness indicating anemia. This little girl desperately needed help. She most likely would not make it through the night.
Elaine is a born rescuer. I asked her how many animals she would estimate she had rescued in her lifetime. At first, she humbly shrugged her shoulders in response, but when I pushed her a little harder, she agreed it must be well over a hundred. Her sister Dee describes her as a bleeding heart when it comes to animals, and over the years of knowing them both, I would have to agree.
Being a groomer, Elaine took care of the flea problem very quickly. She gently washed the kitten’s eyes and fed her goat’s milk from a syringe. She also started her on an antibiotic. Elaine got the kitten to the vet as soon as possible for her own antibiotic prescription and medicine for her eyes. One of the most important things Elaine did for this very sick kitten was to hold her. She held her… a lot. She will tell you she held her to get the kitten’s body temperature back up to normal, but it was much more than that.
Elaine put the kitten in a safe place in her home where she wouldn’t be bothered by the dogs that lived there. A warm, safe, quiet environment, something completely foreign to the little kitten. For the next few days, Elaine showered her with as much love and attention as she could. The kitten ate and slept, ate and slept, growing stronger. The tiny kitten started to eat kitten food, although barely strong enough to chew and swallow. She also began to play a little with the toys Elaine had given her. But still, Elaine held her… a lot.
Elaine told Dee about the kitten and asked if there were any way Dee would be willing to take on a second cat. I think it took a bit of persuading, but Dee agreed. So one week after Elaine had scooped up that dirty, sick, flea-ridded kitten, “Ginger” was on her way to her forever home, miles away from the cold hard life her brothers and sister were destined to endure.
I happened to be visiting Dee that weekend, so I offered to make the hour and a half drive to pick up her new addition. The trip was uneventful as far as the travel was concerned. If there was any doubt in Dee’s mind about adopting this kitten, it was gone as soon as Dee set eyes on the little furball. Ginger was so tiny she fit in the palm of my hand. She would wake up to eat a little, drink a little, use her litter box, and fall back to sleep very shortly after. Her eyes still didn’t look very good, and she just seemed so tired. She was still so fragile. When we went to lunch, Ginger quietly slept in a small carrier at our feet. We then drove back to Ginger’s new home.
Dee put her in a kennel in her laundry room. It was quiet and away from her other cat, Frankie. Dee had no idea what to expect when introducing them. Although the kitten was safely inside the kennel where Frankie couldn’t get too close, the little kitten wanted nothing to do with him when he tried to poke his nose into the enclosure. The kitten’s reaction was a bit concerning, but perhaps it was too soon.
The transformation I saw in this sick little kitten from Friday morning until I left Sunday evening was remarkable. By Sunday evening Dee had moved the kennel into the central part of the house. Ginger’s eyes were almost clear, and she was becoming incredibly active. Frankie hardly left the kitten’s side, sitting on the outside of the kennel. By Sunday evening, the cats were touching noses through the kennel. Both were reaching through the openings to touch each other. Ginger was playing and tumbling and trying to bite Frankie’s tail if she could get close enough. It really was incredible. The life of this kitten transformed in a matter of a week fueled by pure compassion and love.
Driving home that evening, I keep thinking of the impact a decision to love can make. We, like Elaine, may not realize the significance of our choices. We make a difference in the lives of others every day, although often not knowing. Elaine’s kindness was a choice. This wild little kitten was not her responsibility to save, but this single choice to love not only saved a life but is a living example of what love and compassion look like.
2 Samuel 22:3-4 says, “My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge, and my savior — from violent people you save me. I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies.”
Where would we be if God weren’t so patient with us? When our lives get to a point where we have no control of the outcome, God is there to scoop us up and love us.
Sometimes, He has to hold us…a lot.
Wishing you joy and peace,
Lorrie