My kind friend Tamera, in the sketch below, is working out her salvation and reminds me of my first kitten, Formica Dinnette Patrice Foxford Mauerman.

My belief is that we are born here on earth in order to learn. We increase our joy in life if we learn to peal off our nature survival tendencies (only caring for ourselves) and replace them with caring for others.

One of Formica’s great joys in life was to ask to be petted then as soon as she was touched she flipped on her back and hugged my hand against her belly with her arms, and legs,CLAWS, and TEETH! My hand became paralyzed stiff, not moving and in pain. So Formica kicked it with her hind feet to give it some movement and something to fight with. Obviously this a cat practicing a survival skill but on my part it was pain.

Soon Formica  learned the words “GENTLE, Formica be gentle.” I could see her brain working and saying, “No no no. I want to play hard.” But her heart would give me gift. Suddenly with great restraint she’d wrestle my hand with claws pulled in.

I hold her up as an example as I try to pull in my claws.

Tamera A