Lucy

     I have heard about animals being great therapy for grief.  Our therapy animal is a black cat named Lucy.  To understand the miracle of Lucy, I must start at the beginning.  Lucy was found by my children at Phil's work around October 2013.  She was a young cat that had missed several meals.  My kids were outside in the back parking lot playing and she appeared.  She went straight up to them and became instant friends.  Phil was not a cat person, so immediately told the kids "no" before they had time to ask if they could keep her.  Knowing how much my Mom likes cats, I called her and begged for her to come rescue this little cat.  She cannot say no to strays, so she came and picked her up.
     Lucy became one of three cats at my parents farm.  She fit in perfectly and loved on everybody.  The week of Thanksgiving, my parents had gone out of town and I was taking care of the animals.  We only lived just a few miles away, so every afternoon I would load up the kids and go out to feed.  Lucy had not really figured out how dangerous cars could be, so we were always very careful backing out of the driveway.  Out of the blue, she darts in behind my car and I run over her.  It was awful to know and feel the bump.  My kids just went to pieces and I saw Lucy run up to the house very injured.  I just could not stand for my kids to see how badly hurt I thought she was, so I drove off and called Phil.  I was crying and explained what had happened and that he must come out here and probably bury her.  He agreed to come out and arrived about 30 minutes after it happened.  He found her in the garage and she seemed fine.  He said she was sore but appeared to be ok.  How?  All I can say is God spared that cat for the future.
     While Phil was so sick in the hospital, Lucy became the comfort that I could not give my kids.  I was about 2 hours away and could only talk with them rarely.  Lucy was constantly with them.  From sitting in their laps, to letting my kids dress her up in baby clothes.  My son's favorite past time with Lucy is wrapping her up and putting her into a box.  He then pulls her around my parent's house, sometimes running with her.  She just stays in her box and takes it.  Lucy has become their most favorite pet.  After a few days at our house, my kids start asking to go to the farm to see Lucy, not their grandparents.  She even sleeps with them when they spend the night.  I do think Lucy was hurt on that day at the farm.  I believe God healed her before Phil arrived out there.  I also believe that she was to be the kids comfort during this time of loss.  It's like God told Lucy exactly what she was to be to my kids. That probably sounds crazy, but I am so thankful for God's wonderful creation.  Even a little black cat named, Lucy.

Lucy sleeping with my son.