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This is one of my favorite
inspirational stories.
Have a box of Kleenex handy.
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, there
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 care for.
Many people want to be richer, more
successful, well-liked and beautiful -- except for me. I will
always try to be Ugly.
- Author Unknown -
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