Every life has a story. Some are more dramatic than others, but they are stories just the same. Some lives are humans, and some are animals, but they are lives just the same.  Five of these little life stories dropped (or were placed) into my life 2 weeks ago.  The first two were found at a beach park:

“Brooke” is the little calico and she quickly gets drunk on her bottle. When she’s not tipsy from a full belly she’s usually gazing at her world in wide-eyed wonder or voicing her disapproval during clean-up time.  “Firestar,” on the other hand, is much quieter and prefers to explore his world for cozy blankets, warm laps, or comforting arms to snuggle in.

That same afternoon another brother-sister pair was left for dead in a box at the vet clinic. Their bodies were still and covered in ants, but they were revived with tender, loving care and now they have a survival story to share with the world.  “Wolf” is a complete, adorable flirt. When he is allowed to venture out of kitten territory he hurries over to the closest person, climbs on to the lap and, with an abundance of purring, goes through a routine of endearing kitten poses:

“Kitty” is just “Kitty.” She carries on conversations with anyone who will make eye contact with her. She loves to eat, sleep, and purr.  She will not argue with a generous dose of snuggling and enjoys a good bit of kitten play with her brother. The twins are very close to each other, and it’s little wonder, since they survived together.

Less than a week later the fifth life showed up on the clinic doorstep as well.  “Bear” was born to save the world. The way he struts around the house, with his kinked tail proudly displayed for all the world to see, I can just see his red Superman cape billowing out behind him. He’s a tough guy with a baby’s heart. He really needs cuddling in between his times of exploring, wrestling, and staring down the dog.

It has become my mission to find forever homes for these 5 little lives. I am convinced that every life was made for a purpose – people are to bring glory to God through loving and caring for the world that we live in; animals are here to provide us with an opportunity to show compassion to the innocent, to laugh over the simple delights of life, and to learn about living with every ounce of energy that is within us.  I believe that we measure the value of life according to our attachment to it  – thus, if an animal (or child, or elderly person, for that matter) does not fit into our budget or schedule at the time we dispose of it.  This saddens me. 

Raising these 5 kittens has been an incredible investment of my time and resources, but I do not regret a single moment or dollar. My heart is a little more open to love; my eyes are a little more aware of the big world that surrounds me; and my soul is a little more fulfilled knowing that I brought a little more light into the darkness that is enveloping our society. 

Is there room for a pawprint on your heart?