Delicate white, balanced on the railing, Snowball sits patiently, waiting for me to finish my writing, so that I will feed her. Snowball has a voracious appetite, even though she is tiny, an undersized cat, but she understands the importance of writing.

            We got Snowball in 1993, because I wanted an all white kitten to contrast with Tasha, all black, who we’d bought the month before.

Snowball cowered under the coffee table, while Tasha bowed in an attempt to entice her to play.

Snowball did not thrive at first and did not grow or gain weight. She became weaker and weaker.

One night, after fending her off the bed several times, my husband, Mike said sadly: “Let her stay. I don’t think she’s going to make it.”

We were not ready to give up on Snowball though, and took her to the vet the next day. The vet diagnosed intestinal parasites and prescribed medication, and soon Snowball was gaining weight and strength. She never became a full sized cat though. Mike and I think it’s probably due to her early illness.

Snowball and Tasha became the best of friends, and were often seen sleeping together in the cat bed our daughter made.

Snowy developed the habit which of jumping onto the kitchen counters, in search of crumbs and other leftover food. I could not break her of this; no matter how hard I tried.

These days, she doesn’t jump up much, due to advancing age.

Our family has a total of five cats, and sometimes, especially when they are swarming me at feeding time, I wish some of them would not be so long lived.

Then I look at Snowball, and think that if one of them were to go, it probably would be Snowball, as she is one of the oldest cats. That would make me very sad.

Animals are in our lives for a reason. They are our connection with God. Whenever a person commits an act of cruelty against an animal, heaven’s gate changes from gossamer to steel against us all. For it is up to us all to defend the defenceless. We are made in the image of God.

God sees the little sparrow fall

It meets his tender view

If God so loved the little birds

I know he loves me too.

 Janet Bellinger

c 2006