{"id":7030,"date":"2016-09-16T07:31:35","date_gmt":"2016-09-16T13:31:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/?p=7030"},"modified":"2016-09-22T06:43:07","modified_gmt":"2016-09-22T12:43:07","slug":"your-saving-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/2016\/09\/16\/your-saving-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Saving Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"fullsizerender-2\"<\/a>“I can't stand to fly
\nI'm not that naive
\nI'm just out to find
\nThe better part of me.”
\n-Five for Fighting, Superman
\n<\/em>
\nWhen my daughters and I arrived to do our volunteer duties last Sunday, we noticed a new cat in one of the shelter cages. When I began reading Sheryl the cat\u2019s story of how she was rescued from a maintenance man threatening to terminate her and her six kittens, I knew exactly who this cat was. We fostered her babies<\/a> all summer long! I hurriedly unlocked the cage and pulled that sweet mama to my chest. I was not expecting to become emotional, but I did. I could not stop the tears.<\/p>\n

I was holding a four-legged miracle.<\/p>\n

When this cat was rescued from the apartment building, she was close to death. It took her three months to recover from anemia caused by a parasite\u2014but here she was, happy and healthy.<\/p>\n

When my daughters and I told Mama Cat Sheryl how we found loving homes for all her babies, she purred even louder. She nestled in and rested her head on my shoulder. Perhaps she could sense we had stepped in to love her precious kittens when she couldn\u2019t do it herself.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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This weekend, my daughters and I head back to the shelter with more excitement than usual. It is \u201cadopt-a-thon<\/a>\u201d weekend at all the shelters in PetsMarts<\/a> around the country. The owner of the shelter where we volunteer is going to put the cats waiting to be adopted into carriers and display them in the store. Heavy foot traffic is expected. My daughters and I are eager to help. I already know where my younger daughter will stand\u2014right next to Odie\u2019s carrier. I deemed her Odie\u2019s Spokesperson<\/em> a few weeks ago when I noticed what she does each time prospective adopters walk in.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Odie,\u201d she says, drawing their attention toward the beautiful tuxedo cat. \u201cHe\u2019s been here for almost a year. We don\u2019t know why because he is so loving, playful, and he\u2019s very smart!\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone pauses to look and listen to Odie\u2019s Spokesperson. Some of them get to hear his background story. Some get to hear how he licks your hand softly when you put it near the cage. Some even get to hear desperation in a little\u2019s girl\u2019s voice. I know I do. She is his spokesperson, proudly talking him up to anyone who will listen in hopes of finding him a forever home.<\/p>\n

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I know where I will stand during the adopt-a-thon. I\u2019ll stay close to Sheryl\u2019s carrier to say what was left off her story card: \u201cResilient mama cat who fought her way back from death so she could learn of her babies\u2019 fates. And now that she knows, she\u2019s at peace and ready to love you with all her heart.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

My older daughter, with energy abundant, cannot be tied down to one cat. She will move from cage to cage looking for anyone who is agitated, scared, or upset. She is Cat Whisper for the unruly, feisty, and depressed. She speaks softly and gently, never rushing them out of their cages. My older daughter will stay close to whoever needs her so they know she is there to help.<\/p>\n

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Yes, we will all have our roles this weekend. It feels good to know where are strengths are needed. We are anticipating good things to happen and sad things, too. We are anticipating experiences that contain invaluable lessons that will stick with us indefinitely.<\/p>\n

My friends, the lessons of the cat shelter just keep coming. And the latest reminders feel too important to keep to myself, so here they are \u2026<\/p>\n