oUr KiTtY~gOnE bUt NoT fOrGoTtEn

One of my Mum's kitties steals her hearing aid, but mine stole my heart. I can't get away from it, I need to blog at least once about our beloved Teddy Ruxpin.

God gave us Rux at a very special time in our lives, for our first year of marriage. God had many reasons for giving Teddy when He did. I know Ruxie was a kitty, and not a person, but I believe God used him to teach us many valuable lessons.

From the start, Ruxpin was a test of our faith. When we got him, he was a bag of bones and some people thought he would surely die. One day, I thought it too, and Scott and I prayed, along with my Mum and Shelby, I'm sure. God hears and answers prayers! That day, we tried giving him roast beef, and it saved his life!

He was also a test of our patience. We learned and re-learned selflessness and not to love sleep when he was too persistent and wanted to have his food at 5 AM. I believe this lesson was especially for me, because soon after came little Lucy who loved to eat her food as soon as she decided in the wee hours of the morning too.

God gave us a taste of what it would be like to raise a child as well. Sometimes we would come home to the triplex we were renting and find Ruxpin on the counters, on the table, eating the plants, the wall corners all scratched up, the furniture slightly in disarray, food chewed, etc...He was really good at being disobedient when he knew he wouldn't get caught in the act, and since he's a cat, how do we punish him? Sometimes he got time out, which he didn't mind that much cause he could look out the window, although he hated being apart from us.

Sometimes he would disobey deliberately though, especially when Lucy joined our family. Since I spent a lot of time in her room and Rux wasn't allowed in there, he'd sneak in and dash under the back corner of the crib, where I couldn't reach him.



In his later days, we learned how to accept the fact that he was going to make messes he couldn't control...preparation for potty training with little miss Lucy perhaps?

He taught us about selfless love. Even if we got mad at him, he always wanted to be with us.

He reminded us when to laugh!

This next one looks like he's posing, he's actually trying to call a bug down from the window so he can "play" with it. :)

 
Ruxpin also reminded us about acceptance. He loved Lucy from the first moment, though he didn't want her touching him. I'm sure he was being wise and thinking of her future powerful grip. When Lucy was a newborn, whenever we would come home, he'd go over and check her to make sure we had taken good care of her while we had her away from him. He was such a good protector!

He was so beautiful too, with the softest fur of any cat I've ever met. We think he was part angora.

The last lesson he taught us what that sometimes in life, you have to make really hard decisions. Sometimes you have to be so selfless you think it might kill you. My heart still aches and I miss our sweet boy so much. Even when he was in so much pain, he was still loving and cuddly and wanted to make my tears go away. Sometimes you have to let go of one you want to hold so close. That last day, at the vet, I was literally holding him close, burrying my tear-stained face in his so soft fur. I did not want to let go because I knew it would be the last time. The last time I would get to hold our first "fur" baby. I think this was also preparation for the future...how will I react when Lucy leaves for college? When she gets married? If the Lord doesn't return before then, I will know Teddy Ruxpin was preparation. I know, he was a cat and not a human, but my human emotions have been displayed because of this cat. He was a wonderful addition to our little growing family and he is missed, by more than just me too.

I have acknowledged God's hand throughout this post and the blessing He gave us in giving us Ruxpin, the lessons He taught us through Teddy, and I would like to end this note on the fact that God is love. My God and my Saviour gives me comfort and strength for the day. Wonderful memories have been embedded in my brain and though it is hard to have lost Ruxpin, I will be ever thankful for the time we had him and I know he was part of God's perfect plan. I know that God planned Tor's (Victoria Boese) visit with us at the same time as Ruxpin's death because she was such a help to us too.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."~Romans 8:28