Chapter 2 – Coming Home

God’s Peace and Security

Isaiah 26:3

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee:
because he trusteth in Thee."

Psalm 16:8

"I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."

My work day was a busy one but was just fine. Got home and had a nice light meal and took good care to have everything in order under such short notice. Had a talk with Esther, my super senior tabby who was the older of the two cats, and I had recently found out she was battling cancer. She was a loving mindful kitty and you wouldn’t know she was dealing with age and illness unless you had really known her. It was Esther who would be the first to meet the newcomer. From previous experience I have always slowly introduced the senior pet to the new comers first. They seem to know what to communicate right out of the gate and to set precedence. Gideon, my little black panther, was younger and full of personality albeit at times a bit vocal especially when on the phone and yet shy. He and Esther had been with me through many different moves and things, we were close and we all were still grieving Lady and the changes that come with living. He seemed to know something was about to change again and stayed close and wanted reassurance as we all prayed together before I left. “God has a Plan and He is Faithful,” I said on my way out the door.

The drive felt like I was traveling across the state but in fact it was fifteen or so real time minutes. I parked my SUV, said a prayer for God’s Peace and Security for us, and made the call to let the lady, Jodie, know I was there. So was she. I got out and walked toward the front entrance but before I got there I saw a large black SUV with a lady waving at me. She opened the back to reveal a large metal cage with the precious cargo inside. My heart was racing. I had so many questions and hardly any answers and here was that beautiful husky still looking like she wanted to be anywhere but where she was. There was a moment of recognition from our first encounter between us, and she lay down very still. I already knew I would not be leaving without her. It was a moment that swelled in my heart with tremendous nurturing love and protectiveness for this precious life. Jodie opened her cage and I went to her with gentleness. Again, prayed for God’s Peace and Security for us. Never want to approach any creature without proper respect to space and introduction.

Slowly I got close and let her smell my hand, she looked very small, and again gave me that deep soul to soul gaze and waited. I spoke softly and stroked her gently on her neck and introduced myself. She was soft but so very thin. Jodie proceeded to tell me what she cost, how do you put a price on a life I wondered, that her foster name was Jasmine, and that she was a recent rescue that would need patience. Jodie said I could use the metal cage for a month and keep the collar and leash, which was a chewed metal chain. She assured me that if I had any questions to call. I wrote out the check to the rescue, received the few medical records and tags from Jodie and proceeded to load the cage into my SUV. Jodie had taken her out and I took the leash and carefully escorted her to my vehicle. I could tell she was NOT a fan of the metal cage and neither was I. Jodie did say this would be helpful for her so I took it against my better judgment.

Jasmine and I were on the way home and we were both quiet. I reminded the Lord I was willing and I prayed for us trusting He was Listening. I was calm and carefully welcomed her down which she was more than fine with and we went in to our home. I had set up one of the bedrooms as “her” spot to get acclimated and proceeded to get the metal cage out of the SUV and into the bedroom. What a rig amoral that was. Esther and Gideon kept a quiet curious distance and they both went into my room under the bed after hearing and seeing the dreaded metal cage. I closed the door for them to feel safe and set things up. Jasmine looked discombobulated and seemed unusually subdued. I spent some time with her speaking softly and stroking her and then gave her some space of her own. I began to discern some serious complexities in her but things were too fresh and new yet. One thing I did know is her name wasn’t right. It just didn’t fit and she didn’t respond to it at all as if she couldn’t hear it.

Esther and Gideon had come out from under the bed and were relaxed and curious. Esther was more so and even went to the door of the bedroom she was in and meowed in her sweet soft way. As if to say I know you’re in there and it will be ok. When Esther did that again I knew she would have me open the door and let her in and I did. Jasmine, was tucked in a ball in that metal cage and peeked at Esther from behind the paws covering her muzzle. She lifted her head and with both ears out to the side as she watched Esther carefully but deliberately made her way to the cage. Esther sniffed, purred, meowed looked very intently into her eyes and then quietly left with a gentle expression as she walked out. Jasmine put her head down. Gideon took his time but also found his courage to approach and took a good long look and sniffed many times. I often say he has a better sense of smell than most dogs. She looked softly at him more comfortably than with Esther and didn’t make a sound. Gideon walked around the cage as if he was disgusted with it and then purred and gave a huge meow and then walked right out of the room. It was good intros. Not one bit of aggression and unbelievably submissive.

It was time for her first backyard moment and for a potty break before getting some treats and water before bedtime. I had to work in the morning and it was getting late. I opened the cage and welcomed her out. For a while she just sat there staring out the metal door. All of a sudden she got right up and timidly followed me to the sliding door in the kitchen. It was then I saw how thin and frail she was and wondered what on earth had she been through. I had pretty tall block walls surrounding the perimeter and knew she was safe to roam freely and encouraged her to go at will. When she decided to explore her new territory, she looked everywhere for a way of escape. Back and forth from one end to another, she was stressed. It was time for another prayer for God’s Peace and Security for all of us. Not having had a husky before I did not know this was even a thing with some of them. Thankfully she realized there was no way over the walls. Jasmine showed me she had definitely had some kind of trauma in her past. When overwhelmed with her anxiety she would collapse into this little round ball and just freeze. I had to carefully pick her up that night and many nights after to bring her in. When I brought her in that first night Gideon was waiting right in the middle of the kitchen. I carefully placed her on the floor and he proceeded to go right up to her and rub her with his head and body right to the tip of his tail. She stood there and let him do it with a cautious appreciation for his expression. His display of affection surprised me as he was always the nervous of the two kitties. The fact that Jasmine allowed this not knowing him and permitted that very personal encounter after being stressed outside was amazing to me. She and I walked back to the bedroom after a few treats, a good drink of water and a few moments in the living room bonding. She did not want to be in that metal cage. They said it would be safe for her. I was beginning to wonder about that. That night she went in and we said our good night prayers together. I thanked her for being there before I closed the door.

Praying for God’s Peace and Security for all of us was critical as I had much to think on that night but I would have much more in the coming days. Reminding myself that God had a Plan and for sure He is Faithful and that with all the unknowns; His Peace and Security were going to have to steady our souls for the journey He was taking us on together.

 ...Until we meet again...