“When we do not receive the very things we asked for, at the time we ask, we are still to believe that the Lord hears and that He will answer our prayers. We are so erring and short-sighted that we sometimes ask for things that would not be a blessing to us. . . Do not fear to trust Him, even though you do not see the immediate answer to your prayers. Rely upon His sure promise, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you.’”

—Steps to Christ, p.96

“Look mom, there’s a cat, can we keep him? Do we have any food to give him?” Questions tumbled out of my mouth like bubbles out of a bubble machine as I ran to pet him one Sabbath morning.
Mom took the beautiful tuxedo cat from off the fence where he stood purring at us and gave him some food and water. Later that week we asked the neighbors if they recognized him, but not one of them did. After a little debate we finally decided to name the beautiful cat Sylvester.

We had the cat for about two years when something interesting happened; my father was called to be a minister. A lot of things were tied up in that surprise!

It meant my father had to go back to college, we had to move across the country, we had to leave our grandparents and friends,and the most heart-rending thing for me was that we had to leave Sylvester behind.

I was heartbroken, how could I leave him, the cat we had grown to love? I cried myself to sleep some miserable and lonely nights and I also prayed to the God who can understand all sorrows.

Finally it came time for us to move. The last few days were a blur with people saying their last good-byes and the excitement of moving, but always there was a deep sadness about leaving Sylvester behind.

At our new house and the next house we rented we were not allowed to have any pets. I was devastated yet again, I missed Sylvester so much and now we couldn’t have any pets? Many a time I would come to my mother crying, “ I miss Sylvester S-O–O bad!” My mother would always say “ Sierra, if God brought you Sylvester don’t you think the Giver of all good things could give you another cat, even a much better cat?”

About four years later my father was asked to be the pastor in Pikeville, TN. Soon after we moved to Pikeville we were able to get the kitten I had wanted so long. His name is Tiger and he is the best cat in the whole world (I think even better than Sylvester)! He is a perfect mixture of playfulness and kindness. Every time I look at him I think he is a perfect gift of God’s love and grace. If you always have faith in the God of miracles, He truly will bless you more than you could ask or think!