Monday ~ Wash Day ~~ Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and vanity,
so I may serve you with perfect humility through the week ahead.
Tuesday ~ Ironing Day ~~ Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles of
prejudice. I have collected through the years so that I may see the beauty
in others.
Wednesday ~ Mending Day ~~ O God, help me mend my ways so I will not set a
bad example for others.
Thursday ~ Cleaning Day ~~ Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many
faults I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.
Friday ~ Shopping Day ~~ O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may
purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others in need of love.
Saturday ~ Cooking Day ~~ Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of
brotherly love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.
Sunday ~ The Lord's Day ~~ O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please
come into my heart as my honored guest so I may spend the day and the rest
of my life in your presence.
The next day I decided to go back to the park, curious
if the little girl would still be there. Right in the very spot
she was yesterday, she sat perched on high, with the
saddest look in her eyes. But today I could not just walk
away, concerned only with my affairs. Instead I found myself
walking over to the little girl. As we all know, a park full of
strange people is not a place for young children to play
alone. As I began walking towards her, I could see the
back of the little girl's dress indicated a deformity. I figured
that was the reason the people just passed by & made
no effort to care. As I got closer, the little girl slightly lowered
her eyes to avoid my intent stare. I could see the shape of
her back more clearly. It was grotesquely shaped in a
humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was okay,
I was there to help, to talk.
I sat down beside her and opened with a simple "hello".
The little girl acted shocked & stammered a "hi" after a
long stare into my eyes. I smiled & she shyly smiled back.
We talked 'til darkness fell and the park was completely
empty. Everyone was gone and we were alone. I asked the
girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me and
said, "Because I am different." I immediately said "That
you are!" and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder,
she said, "I know." "Little girl", I said "you remind
me of an angel, sweet and innocent." She looked at me
and smiled slowly, she stood to her feet and said, "Really?"
"Yes, dear, you're like a little guardian angel sent to watch
over all those people walking by."
She nodded her head 'yes' & smiled, & with that she spread
her wings & said, "I am. I'm your guardian angel," with a
twinkle in her eye. I was speechless, sure I was seeing
things.
She said, "And when you started thinking of someone other
than yourself, my job here was done."
Immediately I stood to my feet and said, "Wait, so why did
no one else stop to help an angel?" She looked at me and
smiled, "You're the only one who could see me", and she
was gone. With that my life was changed dramatically.
So when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you. Mine was....
Author unknown
The combination of these things combined with a life spent
outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only
one eye, and where the other should have been was a
gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side,
his left foot has appeared to have been badly broken at one
time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him
look like he was always turning the corner. His tail has long
been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would
constantly jerk and twitch. Ugly would have been a dark
gray tabby striped-type, except for the sores covering his
head, neck, even his shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs.
Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction.
"That's one UGLY cat!!" All the children were warned not to
touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down,
squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or shut
his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always
had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he
would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and
quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body
around feet in forgiveness.
Whenever he spied children, he would come running
meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands,
begging for their love. If you ever picked him up he would
immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever
he could find.
One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbors huskies.
They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled.
From my apartment I could hear his screams, and I tried
to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying,
it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end.
Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back
twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white
strip of fur that ran down his front. As I picked him up and
tried to carry him home I could hear him wheezing and
gasping, and could feel him struggling. I must be hurting
him terribly I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking
sensation on my ear - Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and
obviously dying was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him
closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his
head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and
I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest
pain, that ugly battle-scarred cat was asking only for a little
affection, perhaps some compassion.
At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving
creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or
scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in
any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in
me to relieve his pain. Ugly died in my arms before I could
get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards,
thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could
so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness
of spirit, to love so totally and truly.
Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a
thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could,
and for that I will always be thankful. He had been scarred
on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was
time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply.
To give my total to those I cared for.
Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked,
beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be Ugly.
Author Unknown
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