I will never forget one of the sweet ladies that went to my church when I was a little girl. She taught Sunday school every Sunday (even during the summer) for years, volunteering her time. Each week she greeted us all with a smile. If she ever had a bad day or any problems in her life, I sure wouldn’t have known it. She must have been busy because she was a substitute elementary school teacher and also she lived on a farm, but she seemed to have time for us children. Whenever one of us had a story to tell or a comment to make, she would always listen and look with her smiling eyes. It really was more than just a Sunday school class. Although we studied the bible and had lessons, we connected with each other and knew about each others’ lives. I never realized at the time what an important part of my life she would become.
My cat was hit by a car and killed the year that she was my Sunday school teacher. It seems silly and small to think of it-just a stupid little kid with a dumb pet, but that cat was important to me. My sister and I cried together and tried to comfort each other over our only cat that we shared. Our mother had informed us that there would be no more pets.
The following Sunday, I told the Sunday school class about the death of my cat P.J. Later that afternoon, my mother received a phone call from my teacher telling her that they had kittens that were just weaned out on their farm and we could have our pick of them. To my surprise, Mom drove my sister and me out to the farm.
The kittens were wild and not used to people, so we had to chase them down. My sister and I had each caught a kitten and couldn’t decide which one we wanted. We sat on the concrete step with our brand new kittens, with smiles that barely fit our faces. We told Mom, “We just can’t decide” and my Sunday school teacher suggested that we take them both.
We had so much fun those next few days (and the years to come playing with our cats). Mom let us keep the kittens in a box in the kitchen until they were tame.
I was so thankful to have a fresh start with a new kitten. It is strange because sometimes when it seems like things are sad and low, something or somebody totally unexpected is a solution.
