The Story of Hope
We worship a God that is busy everyday meeting his children’s needs. Sometime we loose site of this awesome gift and the countless miracles he performs to see to our needs. I was reminded of this when God used and everyday miracle to remind me of his great love and care for his children. This is the story of Hope, a small kitten, which God chose to use to remind us of his loving care.
It was a Thursday morning and I was thrilled to obtain one of the last parking places in our school parking lot. If you work at Clemson University, you know this feeling. Having a few extra minutes, I thought I would use this time to study my upcoming Sunday school lesson. Soon a young lady pulled beside my car into the next parking space. Immediately, she jumped out to raise the hood of her car. I feared that I would see smoke or fire as I looked out my window. As I watched her amazed face, I knew I better get out to lend a helping hand. As I looked under her hood, I was shocked to see a tiny kitten. The kitten had ridden to school on a small shelf near the front windshield. When the young lady reached for the kitten, the tiny kitten quickly jumped to a safer perch. To be so tiny, she was quite adept at avoiding our hands. Not knowing what to do, we called the University Police and were told they would call animal control. Visions of this kitten being taken to a shelter or possibly being put to sleep concerned us. As we waited for the animal control officer, a police car came by. A female officer stepped out and came to look at the small hiding kitten. As it turned out, this was a multitalented police officer and was a former pet shop owner! Soon she was down on her knees, coaxing the tiny kitten to the safety of her arms. When the animal control officers arrived, they were not the villains we had imagined but very nice men that were willing to wait as we frantically looked for someone who would give this orphan kitty a home. Of course I called who I usually call when I frantically need help - Kim Finley, in the School of Nursing. She immediately began asking throughout the 5th floor of Edwards, “Who will take this small kitten.” This is how kitty found her new home. Dexter Stowers stepped up to the plate to give this kitten a home. To all our amazement, not only was he willing to take the kitten, he was so happy to do it! Knowing Dexter, we should not have been surprised. He has a such a kind heart.
Well, a home was found and we thought all our problems were over. Then the officer asked us what we planned to do with the kitten during the workday. Another problem! It was then that the animal control officers offered to not only keep the kitten until Dexter got off work but to feed her also. In fact, when Dexter arrived to pick up the kitten, he found she was quiet cozy with her new surroundings.
Dexter took the kitten to the Vet that afternoon and with the help of his loving family, named the kitten Hope. She is the most pampered kitty in South Carolina. She even has her own insurance policy and is considered an official member of the Stower’s family! What an amazing outcome for a kitten that was an orphan, homeless and was well on her way to using all nine lives. God has such awesome plans!
As I reviewed all the events of that Thursday morning, I was reminded of God’s amazing love for all his creations. He had orchestrated a series of events that would promote good for this tiny kitten. Most of all, he used these events to remind me of his watch care over every aspect of our lives. God is not a passive bystander but an active, caring Heavenly Father that wants to see to our every need. That morning I was reminded of Jesus’ words :
Matthew 6:
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you…”
While little Hope is quite worthy of her own story, what is amazing was that God used these circumstances to remind me of how he has marvelous plans for our well being. If he took the time to devise this elaborate plan for this little kitten, how could we ever doubt that his watchful eye and loving heart is there to see our every need! Thank you God for loving us enough to give us gentle reminders.
With Thankful Heart,
Jackie Gillespie
