brave little one

Two journeys came together this past year, with lessons not lost on myself.

My sweet August Rose was hit by a car in May...

she dragged herself to the safety of the old outhouse in our apple orchard

- a shattered pelvis, an open leg wound.  All we could do

according to the Vet., was keep her contained in a cat carrier

for almost two months and let her heal herself.  

She did, miraculously, she did.

In so doing, this dear little one showed me such courage.

She officially became a house cat in July.

That July, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  

I felt that my very being had been shattered, 

and I wanted to crawl away, into retreat.  

But each day I was greeted by this little one, 

this little girl kitten that never gave up.  

Her presence often guided me.  

Her recovery provided inspiration.  

If such a little one could do this without complaint, so could I.  

Two lives became intertwined.

We never know how courage will find us.  

Sometimes it arrives in unexpected ways.