A week ago Friday, a little after midnight, hospice nurses caring for my sister-in-law Beverly, switched shifts but inadvertently allowed both house cats, Jack and Tiger, to slip through the door and bolt out into the night. A few minutes later Beverly’s husband Mark realized the cats were gone and ran outside calling them. Jack quickly returned but no Tiger. Mark called and called and then flashlight in hand, combed the shrub behind his house into the early morning hours before finally giving up.
Tiger’s loss was devastating for Mark. His wife’s life slowly ebbing away in the late stages of Parkinson’s, Tiger’s disappearance was almost unbearable. The next morning he ran off 100 flyers with Tiger’s picture and hand-delivered each one to houses in the canyon. We started praying and family and friends searched all over Canyon Acres. No Tiger. Tuesday evening I wrote this in my prayer letter: “My brother-in-law Mark Blumenfeld had a favorite house cat escape through the door on Friday; needing a miracle for it to return; his wife Beverly is on hospice and very near the end.”
We kept praying in the upper room and lots of you who receive this letter prayed. But nothing. Mark was crestfallen. Last Thursday morning I confessed in the prayer meeting how discouraged I felt, that it seemed too much for Mark to lose both his wife of almost 50 years and a cat he dearly loved at the same time. It seemed Tiger was gone for good.
Thursday afternoon around 2 pm Bonnie Johnson visited Beverly and prayed with Mark that the cat would show up. Early Thursday evening around 7 pm I felt a strange urge to visit Beverly again, strange because I had just been there. They live right next door. Feeling prodded I exited my side door and suddenly saw what appeared to be a cat scurrying under the shed behind Mark’s house. It was Tiger. Gone almost a week, there he was.
That night Mark leaned over Bev’s frail body and whispered “Tiger came home.” At that point she could still hear. And she understood, I am certain. And I know that in some way, in some tender, glorious way, Tiger coming home will make Beverly’s soon passing a little easier for all of us. And I am very grateful.
Needs For You to Pray Over…
- Lyssa Kerrigan in the Sudan teaching. Let us cover her during the two weeks she is gone. It’s a very unsettled nation right now
- Mary Blanton’s Grandpa Don who collapsed in Costco and fighting to live with heart issues; pray comfort for his wife, Mary’s mom.
- God would be very present at Ken Auster’s memorial this Saturday at a large church in Capo Beach.
- Much grace for Ken’s beloved wife Paulette as she oversees a weekend of remembrances that includes a paddle-out on Sunday.
- The Azusa Street Celebration at the LA Coliseum this weekend, which is expected to be full (over 100,000), would be an inspiring and fruitful event.
- The teaching in the Book of Acts would majorly encourage and grow our church
- Praise report– God’s presence at Roxy Martin’s memorial; tons of love was showered on Heather, Penny and the whole family
- Healing for Alex Phillip’s broken pelvis and concussion
Wonderful Images: I posted on Mary Hurlbut’s Facebook page that her Easter Sunrise photos were some of her best work ever…
It’s a wonderful church family everyone. I am so very thankful for what God is doing at Little Church; growing and building us up together.
Pastor Jay