Many times in life, we fail to care and
love those people around us. Never judge a person by their looks or a book by
its cover because all these could be deceiving. Give everyone an equal
opportunity to share their life with you…because everybody needs a little
love, care and a need to be wanted. I hope that after reading today's story, we will show more
attention to the people around us before it's too late.
“Ugly”
~ Author Unknown ~
 |
| bizmology.hoovers.com |
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 was a gaping
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.
His tail
has long since been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would
constantly jerk and twitch. Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby striped-type,
except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders with thick,
yellowing scabs. 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 neighbors’ huskies. They did not respond kindly, and “Ugly”
was badly mauled. From my apartment I could hear his screams, and 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.
“Ugly” lay
in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a
gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front. As I picked him
up and tried to carry him home I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could
feel him struggling. I 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, or even 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 others
more truly and deeply.
How often
do we reject or stay away from an ugly person or people who may not be that
good-looking, be less fortunate than we are, or who are unpleasant to have
around you? How many times do we turn away those people who are just crying out
and begging for a little love and affection?
On the
other hand…how many of us are like “Ugly”? No matter what people did to him or
how mean they treated him ALWAYS was looking for a friend and had an endless
amount of love and faithfulness to the ones that treated him badly?
Many people
want to be richer, more successful, well liked and beautiful, but for me, I will
always try to be "Ugly".
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LIFE IS AWESOME!!!
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Note: In
addition to writing my own blogs / stories, I also like to search for stories
and other inspiring / motivating / encouraging things from around the World
Wide Web. If you see an article or story that you have written and want it
removed, please feel free to let me know. I do try to give credit to the people
and/or web sites that I find the information when I can.
