THE CHILDREN’S STORY CORNER:

GOD’S BLESSINGS

We had moved to our new home just before Thanksgiving, but I was having a hard time being thankful. You see, my Rusty-cat had run out the door when it was left open, and that was the last we saw of him. Mother tried to make me feel better, saying he would come back when he got hungry, but her words had not helped much.

The days turned into weeks and still no sign of Rusty. As we were approaching Christmas, I tried to be cheerful, but it was difficult. Finally, Mother told me to remember that all things were overruled, by God, for our good and complaining about them would not change a thing. She suggested we spend our energy making some muffins to give for Christmas presents to our neighbors. We made some for one old neighbor and I had to go along to help, even though I didn’t want to. Mother could be very determined in some things.

After we had delivered the muffins and had a cup of tea with our neighbor, she suggested we take some of the muffins over to the elderly couple who now lived in our old house. While Mother was talking to them, I was fidgeting from one foot to another, wanting to go home. Suddenly, I heard a meow, one I never expected to hear again. “Rusty?” I could hardly believe my eyes! But there was his marmalade head rubbing up against my leg.

“Do you know this cat?” asked the old lady. “About a week after we moved in he walked in one day. Then he sat there patiently watching me until it occurred to me he was expecting me to feed him. Since then, he wanders in almost every day, eats, checks around the rooms as though looking for something, and then leaves again. I felt sorry for him because he looked so sad, somehow.”

“Rusty has been my pet for over six years,” I said. “I’ve missed him so much! I thought I’d never see him again!”

“Well, it seems you’ve got him back in time for Christmas, sort of a present from God, don’t you think?”

“Oh yes! And this is about the best present I could have gotten.”

“What did I tell you about the Lord working in our lives? He does work, sometimes in the strangest ways,” said Mother, beaming. “Now aren’t you glad you came with me?” Your Aunt Vivien