Cobweb: The Unloved Kitten

It all started when the family decided that we would rather have cats roaming our property than mice. 

The traps and mouse bait just didn't seem to be doing the trick of eliminating those scurrying creatures; so my brother and I embarked on a kitten finding expedition. 

It didn't take us long to drive to a home that had  big sign out front reading "Free Kittens".  We parked the truck and got out to see what little fuzzy-wuzzy kittens we would be taking home with us. 


We soon found out that these kittens were wild with limited human contact. 

Oh well, we figured.  We were there now; so we might as well find the best ones and see what we could do with them. 

The lady that owned the kittens proceeded to try to catch the three that we picked out.  That was a crazy adventure in itself.  The kittens would run and hiss and scratch- it wasn't a pretty picture. 

When it was finally all done and said and the renegades had been captured, we had a black and white kitten, a long-haired grey kitten, and a grey-striped kitten all riding home with us in a box. 


On the way back to our place, we came across another "Free Kittens" sign; and decided to check out these kittens.  At this farm, there were some young children outside playing; and they easily picked up two of the cutest little kittens that they had named Butterscotch and Princess. 

Well, we just couldn't resist a lil' blondie and a multi-colored rascal; so we added another two kittens to our collection. 

We finally arrived home without anymore stops and proceeded to make a home for the kittens in the back, unused room of our office.  We figured that we would keep them there until they got older and more used to us.  We opened the box, and the strangest collection of kittens came hurrying out.  Immediately the wild ones all fled to corners to take refuge from these strange humans.

We easily assigned names to our new pets.  Panther was the black and white kitten, Napoleon was the grey-striped, Butterscotch was the Blondie, and Princess was the multi-colored.  Lastly, we decided to call the very wildest kitten Cobweb, since he was busy sleeking through the corners and catching uncleaned spiderwebs in his long hair. 

Butterscotch and Princess had no trouble at all adjusting to human contact.  They were busy winding around our legs wanting attention.  After a little, Napoleon started to cautiously approach us.  Eventually we could pet him; and after that he became a little bit of a pest!  It seems he must want to make up for his childhood of no affection; because he insists on being pampered.  If you stop petting him, he starts to meow a pitiful cry until someone takes pity on him and gives him more love.

So we had three for us and two against us.  Panther and Cobweb still clung to the shadows of solitude.  We kept showing attention to the others, supplying them with fresh food and milk, and showing up day after day to spend time with the group. 


I started to notice that Panther would get closer and closer each time.  She would just sit and watch while the other three would be getting petted.  Their contented purring seemed to strike up a longing inside of her.

Finally, the day arrived when she made the step forward.  She cautiously approached my hand.  I slowly moved my hand towards her, afraid that any sudden movement would send her scampering away.  A smile spread across my face when I finally got to pet her.  She moved closer and actually started to purr!  A thrill of success and achievement crowned my heart with victory. 

Cobweb still was untrusting.  She could see that all the rest were safe and happy, but she just couldn't give in to trust.  Eventually she started to sit closer and closer to me; she even sniffed my brother's hand one time when it was his turn to care for them.

But she still hasn't totally lost all her fear and mistrust.  Only time will tell if love and patience will triumph.  I am hoping that it will.  One day, I trust that Cobweb will be just like the other kittens.      


Cobweb's reactions really started me thinking the last couple of days.  She reminds me like the thousands and millions of children that have been abused or neglected or forced to survive in the foster care system.  She has seen so much that is the opposite of love, that she can't actually recognize love. 

She hangs in the shadows hoping that no one will pay attention to her; while at the same time, wishing someone would.  She hisses and scratches the ones who approach her; because she doesn't want to be hurt again.  Her trust has been broken so many times, and is not easily repaired.  She envies the ones that are receiving kindness, but yet she can't seem to break down the wall that separates her from them. 

Children's faces line my mind's eye when I think of Cobweb.  The tears well up in my eyes when I think about all the little souls that are living in the shadows of solitude like Cobweb does. 

Those children are condemned or ridiculed when they lash out; people give up on them; they are the ones called by the world as hopeless and not standing a chance. 


Perhaps all they need is someone who is willing to take the time----lots and lots of time---- to just be there for them, to just be a caring presence in their life.  Not someone who forces acceptance or love; but someone who is willing to wait and wait and wait until the child slowly approaches and breaks down their wall of fear and mistrust. 

It's hard to be that person; because it hurts when the child hisses or scratches you- even though you are devoting all your time and love and attention to help them.  It frustrates you to see the child sitting in the corner and shutting the world out.

However, God is there.  If He sees the little sparrow fall, He cares so much more for those little hurting lives that fill the world today.  He wraps His arms around every child that is living in the shadows, that is trying to run from the pain.  He can see and feel their pain, and will bless the ones that are trying to help the hurting lives around them.  He will give grace to the giver, and love to the server, and fortitude to the ones that persevere.  Parents, teachers, caregivers, sunday school teachers- - - He will give you the patience and endurance to be there for "Cobweb: The Unloved Kitten" until she starts to trust and love again!

  

THROUGH the EYES of A child

This week is Vacation Bible School at our church.  I always look forward to this time of year.  The energy is running high, there's children's voices in every part of the church, and the outside is full of warm evening air and dancing lightning bugs. 

Sometimes it is easy to just focus on getting the lesson taught, the songs sung, and the snack fed to the bouncing tiggers seated around me.  I tend to forget that these little minds should be my teachers.

Perhaps I should try to put myself in their tiny butterfly sandals and see through their eyes again.  Adulthood has a way of changing a person....we tell ourselves it is for the better....but sometimes I really wonder if that is true?  What could I really learn if I would get down on their level? 

The little boy that won't stay quiet while I'm teaching the lesson isn't afraid to talk to anyone.  Why do I hesitate to start a conversation with people that make me feel uncomfortable?

The little girl that is randomly coloring on everything but what she should be has learned that sometimes black and white routines need a bit of rainbow.  Why do I settle for using blacks and browns instead of coloring with crayola "mango tango" and "electric lime" on the things that God calls me to do?

The quiet child that I tend to overlook has maybe just seen her parents fight or her siblings do drugs.  Why do I get slightly irritated at the defensive wall she has built instead of caring about her fears and heartaches?

The boy that stands gazing at the ducks, regardless of the fact that his teacher is in a hurry, has found that sometimes you learn more by observing than by rushing.  Why do I always scurry around loudly and frantically when I could be enjoying the small joys of life?

The girl that always grabs her teacher's hand when we go for a walk has discovered that friendship is one of the best things in life.  Why do I take my friends for granted and pick out their flaws instead of their good points?

Isn't it interesting that Jesus says that we must become as little children to enter the kingdom of Heaven?

If God could give me their eyes for just a little while, maybe I could see life more clearly.  Maybe I could feel their hurts- and see what they are going through- and start to actually care more about them as individuals than if we get our papers glued properly. 

Maybe I would adapt some of that childlike humility and joy and love if I could see through the eyes of a child.