My son Nicholas graduated from High School. I am so pleased and thankful that our family were able to attend - both Grandmas, Nick's Aunt and Sister and new niece...it was a true celebration of Nick and his accomplishment!
My sister gave Nick a wonderful book entitled, "The Butterfly Effect". What an incredible book with a message that I pray nestles deep inside him, blooms and grows! Here is an excerpt from the book, "Every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created in order to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world." You matter and what you dream matters! He goes on to talk about a life of "permanent purpose". "When you know that everything matters, that every move counts as much as any other, you will begin living a life of permanent purpose." Basically pursuing that which makes you come alive, living a life that was meant for you and only you. Reaching for the stars, pursuing your dreams, staying focused, running your race and telling your story. It all fits together!
As Nick was finishing his senior school projects and getting his final papers into school before he graduated, we had a bit of a drama unfolding on our small farm. Maui kitty, the little kitty who Nick brought to our home almost 3 years ago on the brink of death vanished. Seemingly into thin air. I was devastated and Nick was crushed. As we searched all over the neighborhood, we were thankful that we did not see our Maui kitty on the road, at least we knew she hadn't been killed by a car and there was still hope. We checked every culvert pipe and all the ditches and hiding places within a square mile. No sign of Maui kitty.
Maui isn't like other kitties. When Nicky intervened she was malnourished, far too young to be without her Mama and suffering with a terrible upper respiratory infection. She was so bone thin it was hard to hold her and pick her up for fear you would crush her little self. She never grew beyond the size of a 6 month old kitty. She hadn't had a very good start in life, but she filled out and was blooming none the less. She was just small and would always be so. But, she had this strong spirit, the want to live and be loved by this gentle giant of a man...my son. She adored Nick from the very start...he was her hero, her rescuer and she knew it. Nick adored her as well and he was mourning her loss. At one point he asked me, why would God take her from me? A reasonable question, a hard question. So many kitties out there unloved and uncared for...why this one. I told him that there was still hope and that I was praying for her return. I was also praying for my son, who needed to see God's hand at work in his life. I remember silently asking for God to bring him a miracle. As I could see him wrestling with far more than just his kitty missing... Oh, please Lord allow my son to know how very much You love him...I whispered through tears.
Maui went missing on a Tuesday and by Saturday I was losing hope... To top it off I woke up early Saturday morning to see this sitting in the very back of my pony pasture...
I had a friend who had just shared a drama that unfolded on his farm...a story about a fox and a chicken. The chicken lost. This fox looked right at me as you can see, even when I went on my deck to take a picture. She was bold and determined. Was she coming back to see if I had any more kitties to offer her? It was afterall the season for pups and she had mouths to feed. Oh, no! My heart sank deeper...oh, Lord I so wanted Maui to return... I searched my thoughts and realized that perhaps, maybe this was a sign to me to stop looking for Maui. To have closure. To understand that Maui was not coming back. The fox was her end. I have never ever seen a fox be so blatant as to sit in my pasture. I have seen them running here and there, I know we have a healthy population. I can smell them from time to time...but never have I had one look up at my house as if to ask...more please? I didn't say a word to Nick. I wanted to believe beyond what my eyes had just seen. I prayed again... Tuesday a week had past. I cleaned Maui's litter box for the final time and put it away in the garage. I put her dishes up... I was so sad, as I really did feel that God had a hand in this somehow...that He wanted to reach out to my son and let Him know that he would never leave or forsake him...but... Oh, yea of little faith...
We continued to make preparations for our celebration of Nick and his achievement. My Mom and sister were set to travel to our home and stay with us to join the celebration. We were so thankful and appreciative that my Mom would travel at 85 years young to be with her only Grandson. We were all busy preparing...moving forward. But, I knew that Nick was still mourning his kitty (yeah, me too).
Thursday morning dawned bright and sunny. It had been rainy and cold for several days and we were happy to be wakened by the warmth of the sun. My husband, Matthew put the dogs out and sat on the deck to be greeted by this loud meow...and then another until I could hear this frantic meowing coming from the deck under our bedroom window. Matt yelled, "Maui"!! She had returned! I ran down stairs and looked her over...no worse for wear. A bit thinner but not a scrape or scratch on her tiny self! I scooped her up and headed for Nick's room... and he heard her meow and what a happy reunion. At first, Nick was so sound to sleep that he thought he was dreaming! Is it really her, Mom?
Here is our sweet Maui home at last. And to Nick - you matter...God loves you so very much! If He loved Maui enough to take care of her and return her safely home...how much more does He love you! It was a powerful message not only to my son, but to this Mother's heart! God says that He knows, "the number of hairs on our head." He has a purpose and a plan for my son and for each of us. IF he could keep Maui from the wiley fox and who knows what else while she was gone...He is able to keep us, guide us on this race He has set for us.
Every single thing matters...
