My Lord, what a lesson!!!
Ugly, the Tomcat
Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was.
Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this
world: fighting, eating garbage and, shall we say, love.
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 hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot 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.
Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, striped type, except for
the sores covering his head, neck and even his shoulders.
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 your 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 neighbor's dogs. They did
not respond kindly and Ugly was badly mauled. 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.
As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear
him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. It
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 battled 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, 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.
When I read this I cried so hard and I cried each time I read it afterwards. I don't know if its true or if its someone's made up story but which ever, its a lesson more people should learn. I will never pass up a small "Ugly".
Blessed Be.
Dee
Mom to Jessie, Nikkie, Luckie, Lady, Sammy & Sassy Bear
Ugly, the Tomcat
Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was.
Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this
world: fighting, eating garbage and, shall we say, love.
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 hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot 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.
Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, striped type, except for
the sores covering his head, neck and even his shoulders.
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 your 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 neighbor's dogs. They did
not respond kindly and Ugly was badly mauled. 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.
As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear
him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. It
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 battled 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, 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.
When I read this I cried so hard and I cried each time I read it afterwards. I don't know if its true or if its someone's made up story but which ever, its a lesson more people should learn. I will never pass up a small "Ugly".
Blessed Be.
Dee
Mom to Jessie, Nikkie, Luckie, Lady, Sammy & Sassy Bear
