Sunny…

Sunny…10-20-25

After 2 1/2 years with essentially no pets, Sunny has joined our family. After a moment of overwhelmed graciousness, my grandson and I left my sister’s house with a cage firmly planted on my grandson’s lap. My grandson softly sang while the cat meowed. My grandson was trying names out for the cat and finally settled on S u n n y. Before a mile had passed, the meowing stopped and my grandson continued to sing. After a quick trip to DG for cat food, and a spider in the car trauma, we continued home. Every few minutes my grandson would ask about my asthma. When he stopped talking to the cat, Sunny would meow.

My husband was reticent to even view the cat as he was determined the mostly wild animal would not remain at our home, Tomcats tend to roam. I awoke before 5:00 am on Sunday to the cat meowing. When my grandson got up at 7:30, he quickly went outside to find Sunny gone. We called and called. Nothing. After returning from church, we began to look again. Nothing. After about an hour, I tried again. Meowing on my part, led to meowing on Sunny’s, who was firmly across the highway in the woods. Long story later, he was still there long after evening church and my grandson went home. One last try before sitting down for the night found the cat still across in the woods.

I prayed that Sunny would understand safety, and for my grandson, he would come home. About 30 minutes later, my husband said, “He’s on the porch!” Quickly I leapt (loving to picture this, but at my age it was more of a quick get up, no leaping involved), and out the door I went. I sat on a piece of wood and talked. Sunny slowly came closer and began to purr. My goal, touch him before I went to bed. After what seemed like an hour, but actually maybe 10 minutes, Sunny was wriggling around on the concrete beside me while I rubbed him and he purred. Goal accomplished.

This morning, my sweet husband went outside to check on Sunny. He called and we heard him hiding under the storage building. My husband then said, “You go get ready for work, and I’ll sit here and talk to him.” Uh huh! What a tough guy! A picture was sent to me not an hour later while I was on my way to work. The cat was on his stomach in the swing, purring and kneading.

You see, if you know me, you know I pray about everything. I don’t like rash decisions. My husband and I are very intentional about looking at pros and cons. This was a decision that was not planned, thought out, or prayed over. The worst kind. But God is faithful and merciful even with the smallest of matters. He shows us His love and kindness. Even if the cat had not returned, I would have felt the same way. But I’m so grateful to Him that Sunny decided to make our home his, both for my grandson and my husband. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.