The Difference Between Me and Nine Lepers

Let me tell you a little story. When I left my husband, Russ, it was in such haste that I had to leave everything behind, including my little kitten Newt. While Russ had been exchanging drunk text messages with his mistress it was my Newty who would come with me to sleep in the middle of the night.

We had him from the time he was eight-weeks-old, and I left less than a week before his first birthday. Leaving him behind just about broke my heart to begin with and the timing just made it worse.

Every time I had to walk by our apartment to leave something in the mailbox I hoped Newty wasn't looking out the window, wondering why I wasn't coming back for him.  I cried more for that cat than I did for my husband.

Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son   John 14:13

By then I was living with my dad who hates cats. He had no pity for me in this matter whatsoever. Even if Russ and his new woman had been inclined to give Newty back to me I wasn’t allowed to have him in my dad’s house anyway. All I could do was pray.  

“Please God, bring my Newty back to me, and find me a place to keep him in,” I prayed almost every night.

Brought to mind was the story of Jesus healing the ten lepers, and only one came back to thank Him. I thought to myself I don’t know what was up with those other nine guys but if God would bring my Newty back to me I swore I would thank Him every day for the rest of my life.

Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Luke 17:17 

The time eventually came that Russ and "his new roomie" got evicted from the apartment. He sent me a text saying they were being put out and that I needed to take the cat. I wasn’t aware at the time but Russ was beginning the end of his life. He was not communicating coherently.  When I tried calling him to make the arrangements to get the cat, he didn't answer.

When they left the apartment Newty got left behind. I had emailed the management office to ask if they would let me get the cat, but because I was no longer on the lease she couldn’t help me.

"I am aware there is an animal in the unit," she told me, "but I can't let you in or bring anything out to you unless Russ is there."

Newty was by himself in the dark overnight until Russ was allowed to come back and get him the next day. Even though I forwarded to him the email exchange with the rental office manager, Russ put it out there that I abandoned the cat. The only communication I got from him were repeated nasty messages to that effect. The only words I replied to him were, "Never talk to me again."

Days passed and I didn't know where Newt was or what had become of him. I thought that not only had all of my belongings been tossed into a Dumpster, but that Newt had been collected by Animal Control and sent back to the shelter. I could only imagine what he must have been thinking if that were the case. All I did was cry.

And continue to pray.

When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7

Both of my adult children live with their dad. My son had stayed at our apartment a few times, and he got close with Newty as well. It was put on my heart to send my son a message telling him my side of what had happened. I already had one cat die in my care. I wanted at least my son to know this other cat’s fate was not my fault. I did everything I could for my Newty.

Just when my dad was about to let me have a turtle as consolation, someone else on Facebook contacted my daughter asking if she knew anybody who wanted “Russ’s cat." She told her dad.

It was my first husband who intervened. Our divorce was very contentious and he hadn't spoken a word to me in over a decade. But when he saw my message in our son’s phone, he got in touch with our daughter’s Facebook friend. Then he messaged me with that person's contact information.

Once I got in touch with that person the arrangements were made for Newty to be brought back to me. I was beside myself with joy. My dad, not so much. Newty and I have been relegated to the basement, but that has worked out nicely. The Lord has provided us a safe space.

Newty was given back to me after they had been running the streets with him for three days, either carrying him around in a bag or walking him with a cord tied around his neck like a leash. On top of being a nervous wreck having to be coaxed out of hiding, he had worms. I was able to treat him for that much with over the counter medicine, and he improved in a couple of days.

But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God. Ecclesiastes 8:13

After they had given up the cat Russ sent me a message with the update.

“We found a home for the cat,” he told me. “I just thought you should know.”

It wasn’t until after I had Newt back they were informed he was with me.

"Your friend was pretty scummy for the deception," was what he told me about that.

I thought that was rich, all things considered, but I said nothing back.

Russ hassled me about that cat for what turned out to be the rest of his life. By then his new girlfriend had procured a car for them to live in.

“I want my cat back!” he told me in what was his last message to me. “He’s not yours!”

“Find yourself a forever home,” I replied, “then we can talk about giving you your cat back.”

Russ was dead two weeks later. I prayed for him that his "forever home" was not in Hell, but the priest at my church was not optimistic. I had been to a scheduled confession after missing mass a bunch of times from being in a state of mourning.

"I still pray for his soul," I told the priest, "You know, for the souls in purgatory."

"Well," the priest told me, "when you're in a state of sin and you die and you don't repent, well, that's not good."

I still pray for his soul; just in case.

We know that in everything God works for the good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Today was a stressful day, and I was feeling really tense. When I finally sat down, my little buddy sat up next to me, and even hugged me. Those are the times I treasure. I try not to think about that or those few months that I spent away from him. It still upsets me to think what might have happened to him. Every time I look at this cat, all I think about is how happy I am to have him back.

Call me "crazy cat lady" if you like, but I do thank God every day for bringing Newty back to me, and I will be thankful every day for the rest of my life.