Week 1: Devotional Response

I think God sent me Bentley.  I've often though, "Why me?"  I've decided the reason is because He knew I would tell people my story to show the power of his love.
-Laura Stevens

By Laura Stevens

Here is one thing I am grateful for that I want to share with Trinity:  my cat.  Here's why.  In April 2012 my beloved husband, George, died.  We had been married some 42 years.  George was a wonderful, loving man.  One of his hobbies was to look at fancy cars.  He even subscribed to several car magazines.  But his favorite cars were always the Bentleys.  If I asked him what he wanted for Christmas, it was always a Bentley -- not that we were veer going to have one...they are hundreds of thousands of dollars!  And George would always say he was going to give me a Bentley for my birthday and I wouldn't want to take it back because it would hurt his feelings!  So we laughed and joked about all this for years. 

After George died, I missed him so badly.  I thought maybe a kitten would help.  So my wonderful sons, Jack and Jeff, came home for a weekend and we all went to the animal shelter.  The first kitten I saw was gray and white.  He meowed at me and I melted.  We took him back to the playroom and he was awful!  He wouldn't let us hold him and he was hyperactive.  So we put him back and got out some other kittens, but they weren't right either.  So I said, "Let's try the gray and white one again."  It was the same story -- he was wild.  But somehow I knew this was the kitty for me.  The kids looked horrified when I said I wanted to get him, but they agreed.  After filling out all the paperwork, as we turned to leave I said to the staff, "Does kitty have a name?"  They replied, "Oh, yes.  It's Bentley." 

Not only did George and God send me a Bentley, he's a silver Bentley because his paws are silver in color.  He turned out to be as expected -- on the wild side.  But he began to calm down and has even become more of a lap cat.  He's a character.

But there is more to the story.  I began to notice that Bentley left me his favorite stuffed mouse outside my door at night.  Not every night, but whenever I needed encouragement.  For example, I was due to go down to the Midwest Eye Clinic in Indianapolis because my eye doctor said I had the start of macular degeneration.  I was really worried about my visit so the night before I told Bentley he should leave me the mouse outside the door.  I didn't really expect him to do so, but there was the mouse right outside my door the next morning.  I knew that I was going to get along just fine in Indy.  The other night, after a tough day, Bentley left me mouse and another stuffed creature outside my door.  I said to Bentley, "Wow Bentley, I really appreciate your presents!"  He looked at me and winked.  Maybe I'm giving him too much credit, but it helps the loneliness.  

I think God sent me Bentley.  I've often though, "Why me?"  I've decided the reason is because He knew I would tell people my story to show the power of his love.  Thank you, Father!  And thank you Trinity for making me feel welcome!