Today is National Pet Day

Posted on February 20, 2020 by M. E. Murray

I have two adorable pets, a cat, Marty, and a foxhound, Twister. We love them!

Marty is probably 14 years old. He used to be a feral cat, but we turned him and his brother, Klyban, and their mother into indoor cats. Klyban and Marty were very fond of each other, almost inseparable. They played, and when they rested, slept together.

Mamma Kitty

Klyban playing inside a cardboard box

One morning, about 3 years ago, Mamma Kitty suddenly vomited blood. My husband rushed her to our vet, but he called me to give me the sad news: ” Mamma didn’t make it.” We miss her a lot. She was an amazing cat, who loved to play with her toys. Many times we heard her meowing to them as if they were her children.

Unfortunately, last year we lost Klyban to lymphoma on June 26, 2019. Losing him hit me and my husband very hard. I’m sure that his death affected Marty, also. Marty was not himself for several months, and I realized that this behavior was probably due to missing Klyban. I can understand how Marty must have felt. I cried rivers when Klyban passed away and found it very hard to not see him sleeping on my bed, on the recliner, and sofa; walking around the house; and playing with Marty. For several months, every time I thought about him, tears flowed from my eyes because I no longer had him. ( I experienced the same feelings when Mamma died, but at least she didn’t suffer from undergoing cancer treatments.)

My husband and I spend as much time as possible with Marty after Klyban’s passing because we understood that there was a possibility that he was still grieving. It wasn’t until recently, perhaps this past month, that Marty started to act like himself. He sleeps and has become very affectionate. This behavior probably means he has accepted the loss of his sibling. (I’m not done with losing Klyban or Mamma; however, Marty and my husband keep me happy, and so does our foxhound, Twister.

Twister

Twister is a rescue dog. When we found him in our backyard, he was very sick. We took him to our vet and learned he had steroid responsive meningitis. Twister underwent treatments and survived, and now he’s been part of the family for approximately 11 years.

My final comment or recommendation on National Pet Day is to love and take good care of your pets. They love you unconditionally and make your life merrier when it hits a rough spot.

St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day

Posted on October 4, 2019 by M. E. Murray

I love this statue of St. Francis, and enjoy seeing it every day. I hope you like it, too. I pray to him every day, and ask Him to take care of my pets.

Today, October 4, 2019, is St Francis of Assisi’s feast day. I am so fortunate to be alive to celebrate his feast day. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment. Many churches and religious communities celebrate his life, and priests also bless people’s pets. (If you can’t take your pet to be blessed, it is okay to take a photograph of your beloved pet or pets to the priest. He will bless the photo and pray for your pets. My husband and I don’t take our foxhound, Twister, for the “blessing of the animals” ceremony because he would get too excited and might scare people and their pets. Twister’s a very nice dog, though. We’re just being cautious. Our rescue kitty, Mr. Martin, would be traumatized by the crowds. So we don’t take him, either)

I’ve had the following prayer for a long time, and say it every day. It helps me during difficult times.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Posted on November 22, 2018 by M. E. Murray

Rabbit&Turkey wwwmemuray.com.wordpress.com

Rabbit and Turkey Toasting

Today, many of us will be celebrating our good fortunes. This year I have so many things to be thankful for: my wonderful husband and friends; being alive even though I have a painful chronic illness; my pets are in good health. ( Twister didn’t lose his leg.); the Dallas Cowboys won! I could go on and on, but I promised to make brief posts.

U. S. Flag

Honoring President John F. Kennedy

There is another thing that I need to mention today. Tomorrow is my mother’s birthday. She is gone, but is always in my heart. Unfortunately, the day before her birthday, Pres. John F. Kennedy was assassinated. So, today I also celebrate him because he didn’t deserve to die like that. Unfortunately Thanksgiving has been assigned to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month, and it just happened to coincide with President Kennedy’s assassination. So, let’s be happy that we had such a great man serve as president of the United States and remember him in our prayers.

Saint Francis of Assisi Feast Day

Posted on October 7, 2018 by M. E. Murray

October 4, 2018 was St Francis of Assisi’s feast day. He is the patron saint of animals and the environment. Many churches and religious communities celebrate his life, and priests also bless people’s pets.

I don’t have a picture of St. Francis; however, there is a water color painting I made as a teenager at my parents’ home. For the time being, the best I can do to honor him is with picture of a statue and his prayer. I’ve had it for a long time and say it everyday. Here it is:

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

I haven’t been to a blessing of the animals. Have you been able to attend one at your church?