Princess

Princess

Welcome to Christianity Oasis. This is Princess from our Sojourn With Luz Leigh Collection. We hope you enjoy this enlightening reading and it helps you on your own be-YOU-tiful Christian walk.

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Sojourn With Luz Leigh

Princess

Written by Luz Leigh - 08 July 2008

Two weeks ago I received some sad news ... Princess is dead. For those who don't know about Princess she is a cat that has owned me for about fifteen years. One Saturday morning I went to the local feed store. Upon climbing the wooden steps to the area where the sacks of feed and fertilizer were stored, I noticed a wire cage with some small kittens in it. Oh, well, that is not unusual here in our little town. We don't have a pound or a place that accepts unwanted kittens and puppies, so people will bring them to one of the many stores. Sometimes there will be a sign that says something like "take me home with you," or simply "free." This cage had not a sign on it.

The young man who worked at the store said, "I know one of those kittens has your name on it." To which I replied, "When pigs fly will I take a stray cat home with me." I made my way inside to pay for my supplies, thinking no more about the kittens. But, on my way out, the young man was holding one of the kittens and handed it to me so he could load my supplies in my car.

Of course, the kitten nuzzled against my neck, purring happily. When the young man returned, he said, "See, she loves you already." I suppose pigs flew that day, because I brought the kitten home with me.

Because I am the queen of this household, I named the cat Princess, thinking I would share my kingdom with her. Princess has other ideas. It was not long before I found out who the reigning royalty was in this house.

She would greet me when I returned from work each day; she would share the couch with me as I watched television or read the newspaper. She made sure she was in my lap when I tried to work the crossword puzzle.

Training her to the litter box was a breeze; she ate the food I served her and enjoyed the fresh water I daily placed in her bowl. We were happy together. And then, it happened. After being the perfect pet for a couple of years, Princess suddenly became a terror. She left her litter box, choosing instead to wet on every throw rug in the house ... never on the carpet ... just the throw rugs. For that I was thankful. At least I could wash those each day.

After trying everything I could think to do, or was suggested by family member, I called our family vet. This man has been caring for our animals for over twenty-five years and knows almost as much about our family lives as we do. After going into great detail about my (Princess') problem, he chuckled as he said, "You have someone new in your life, don't you?" Thinking the man meant a male friend, I quickly said, "NO, I do not." He reminded me that just a few weeks before the trouble with Princess began I was blessed with a new grandson. Well, yes, but what does that have to do with anything related to this stubborn cat? "She's marking her territory." Well, long story short ... I was faced with three choices, I could get rid of the cat, I could keep the cat and continue to wash rugs on a daily basis, hoping she did not extend her "territory marking" any further, or I could get rid of the grandson. I chose option number one.

After much searching for a new home for Princess, I convinced a friend to take her to her ranch and give her the freedom and love she deserved. For just over ten years Princess had the run of the barn and the area around it. She learned to climb trees, scamper to the highest peak of the barn's roof and play on the big round hay bales. Every year I received a Christmas card from the friend, her husband and Princess, along with a current picture of my cat. Willingly I paid a small fee to "board" Princess with that couple, who would have taken her into their hearts for nothing.

Then one night tragedy struck. Somehow Princess was not able to elude the coyotes that came from the nearby woods. Her life ended, not surrounded by her loving family, but at the will of those wild animals. My only prayer is that she died quickly and did not suffer.

A couple of weeks prior to her death, Princess was perched on a limb in one of the trees next to the barn that she had called home since 1998. My friend took a picture of her; this was unusual. Only at Christmas time did Princess have her picture taken. I received a card with the last picture taken of Princess, with the wording "Just a reminder that you're thought of often ... " and was signed Red, Betty, Princess. This card arrived in the mail a week before Princess' death. Does the Lord not work in wondrous ways? When Betty told me she had no idea why she took that picture, I told her, "I know." I shall forever be grateful to that loving couple who took Princess into their hearts, gave her a home and kept me assured she was living the life of not a princess, but of a Queen.

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