One Year with Priscilla & Aquila

It's sometimes hard to believe it's been one year since these two creatures entered my life.

 

They were once so tiny and delicate, light as a feather.  Their meows tiny and needy, their claws minuscule and barely damaging.  She hated him at first and seemed to be intent on killing him; he seemed content to ignore her and tolerated her abuse.  They were terrified to go outside and would climb up my body to cling to my neck for fear of the great big world.  Ella the dog was also viewed as a terrifying enemy, to be avoided and hissed at with arched backs.  They were a lot snugglier in those days. Everything was new, funny, and adorable.  They brought constant laughs and energizing joy to the household and our lives.

There has been a lot of changes this year.  They have grown physically and in maturity.  It didn't take long for them to become buddies, virtually inseparable.  They now crave the outdoors, begging to go out at all times.  They have learned to hunt, but do not eat the mice yet; they do, however, love to catch and eat flies.  Their meows are adult-like and their claws do a lot more damage to furniture and skin alike.  They get along very well with Ella, often even sleeping near her and sharing little nose-kisses.  Their energy is still enormous; their favorite pastime is to chase each other rambunctiously across the house, over and under furniture, from room to room.  They don't have much time for being held or cuddled these days but once in a while the mood suits them, particularly in the middle of the night.

I named these cats after two of my favorite characters in the Bible.  I had chosen these names roughly twenty years ago, knowing eventually I wanted a pair of kittens to grow up together with these names. The time finally came, and God has used them to heal and provide for me. They are reminders of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, loyalty, caretaking, and so much more.

Close friends, co-laborers, partners of the Apostle Paul: husband and wife, Aquila and Priscilla.  They were the friends that the apostle needed in the difficult life of ministry.  Trusted, reliable, hard-working, loyal... Companions along The Way, faithfully present for the journey of life.  Priscilla often taking the lead, a revolutionary woman of leadership at a time when women had few rights and privileges, while also honoring her husband in a truly healthy partnership.

My Priscilla and Aquila have proven to live into their namesakes, sometimes right down to the very personality traits.  There is nothing so calming as holding them in my arms or listening to their purrs.  The "knowing" in their eyes as they stare back at me; the love and faithful loyalty present in the kneading of paws on my lap.  The laughter at their hi-jinks and the games played together.  They have brought joy and energy and love, light and life.  They truly are gifts from God and serve as wonderful companions along the Way in this journey called life.

As much as they need me, I have no doubt at all that I needed them more.

I am so thankful that I took the plunge to commit myself to them.