Miracle

Demi...3 weeks old

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Miracle…. “ an event or effect in the physical world deviating from the known laws of nature, or transcending our knowledge of these laws; an extraordinary, anomalous, or abnormal event brought about by superhuman agency; a wonder or wonderful thing; a marvel”.
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My life has not been short of miracles. God has been gracious in the giving and I have been blessed beyond measure in the receiving. This is an account of the most recent:

Jack-E, our one year old polydactyl cat, gave birth to triplets on April 2, 2009, two males, Hemi and Semi, and one female, Demi. A young mother, Jack-E was very protective and every night, just like clockwork, she would bring the kittens and put them into bed with me and my husband. Having always slept with us, I assume Jack-E thought her kittens were supposed to as well. This ritual continued until the Easter weekend. Our grandchildren came to visit and Jack-E must have decided it was safer to keep them hidden behind the bathroom vanity.

As time passed, on June 14th, I decided that three kittens and a mama cat had become a little more than I could continue to handle inside the farmhouse. I had my husband put their “cat house” beside the deck in the back yard where I knew they would be safe and where their mother, Jack-E, could take care of them. It was settled in my mind that I was making a good decision knowing that nature takes care of its own. However, that little voice inside my head just wouldn’t let me really have peace about the decision. So, it was a long night and as daylight broke the next morning, I went outside to check on the little ones.

As I called for them, they slowly came out from their hiding spot underneath the deck. That is, all but one--Demi. The smallest of the litter, weighing in at just a little over 2 lbs, and the only female, she was dearest to my heart. I have always been a sucker for the underdog, or perhaps in this case, the “under cat”. As the search grew, three trips around the entire perimeter of the farm acreage, soon morning became noon and it was apparent that my Demi was lost. When my husband found evidence of an altercation with several swatches of hair, it was his decision that a coyote or a wild dog had taken her during the night. With that being said the tears that I had managed to hold back with the anticipation of finding her safe, fell uncontrollably down my cheeks. I just could not accept the fact that I was to blame for her demise as I was so insistent on putting the kittens outside. What was I thinking? They were too young. Demi was too small. Jack-E was a new mother. Three kittens were too many for her to protect on her own. Why do I keep forgetting that we live in the country where wild animals roam and not in the city where only a few stray dogs are considered a cats’ worst enemy? Too many questions flooded my mind!

That was Monday and even though I pretty much accepted the fact that Demi was gone, I kept asking God to please let her show up. Maybe she had just gotten too far from the house. Maybe the morning exercise group would find her on their walking route and bring her home. Maybe she was hurt and hiding nearby. Each morning I continued to search--Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday…I walked the roads and the farm acreage still asking God for a miracle. Then, I gave up.

**This is a long post, so I will continue with Part 2 tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit. We love having company!

Au revoir