Today, I experienced an object lesson. Jesus talked about the shepherd who loses a lamb. He leaves the flock and goes in search of the lost one.

My favorite cat disappeared as of Monday night (four days ago). We have five cats, and if anyone else had told this story (I pictured someone sharing this as a prayer request at church), I would have felt sad, sure, but for just a moment. When orange-tabby "Albert" didn't appear yesterday at suppertime, my heart filled with dread. I went to bed praying he would come home, but fearing a walk up the highway would find his little body in the ditch. Tears seeped out, and I woke up this morning feeling sad and heavy. When I went out around 8:30 to do the chores, again, no Albert anywhere to be seen.

Since becoming a mom, my emotions have become much more volatile. I seem to feel everything more intensely. The loss of this little kitty really weighed on me, and I felt like the shepherd Jesus described. Here we have four, fun and healthy kitties at home, but I'm gripped by the knowledge of the one that's lost, wondering what happened to him, fearing the worst.

God be thanked, this story has a happy ending. Albert sauntered very nonchalantly around the corner while I was filling the critters' water pail at the barn. No explanations, no apologies, but he was a very lovey kitty all day today. If only our animals could talk to us, oh, the stories they would tell, I'm sure.

I never thought I would be such a basket case over a missing cat. Again, I chalk it up to the recent hormone changes brought on by motherhood. It sure is good to have Albert home again, safe and sound.