Over a year ago, I got out of bed, went to the kitchen for my morning cup of coffee, and then went out on the back porch to see if I had any visitors.

I have foxes, opossums, cats, and raccoons (who are politically correct and wear masks when they come). I put food for them and they serve themselves. Every morning the food plates are empty and waiting to be filled.

It’s great to look out at night and see some of these critters coming in for their snack.

This morning as I was looking I saw a little kitten on the porch. I had no idea where this little kitty came from or how he got onto our back porch.

I opened the door, went out and the little kitten ran and hid. She thought she was hiding, but I could see exactly where she was. So I left her alone and went to get some food for her. I put it on the plate and stood there waiting for her to come, instead she sat there, looked at me, then looked at the plate, then looked back at me.

I knew what he was doing, so I had to step aside so he could come over for breakfast.

I tried to hide this information from my wife because she doesn’t like pets. At least that’s what she says. According to her, all these animals have fleas and she hates fleas.

Trying to hide something from him is way above my pay scale. She knows exactly what I’m thinking three days before I really think about it. If she were smart, and I’m not, she’d ask you to pick the winning horse in the next horse race.

He eventually noticed my friend on the porch and, in no uncertain terms, wanted him gone.

Contrary to her expectations, I continued to feed the little kitten and, like all kittens, it grew into an adult and I noticed that as it grew, it attracted more other cats. But of course, at the time, I didn’t think about that and just kept feeding her and her friends as they came.

“We must,” my wife said more emphatically, “get rid of that little kitten because he can’t stay here.”

“Well,” I said as patiently as possible, “I’ll get rid of him when he’s old enough to leave.”

“When will that be?”

She couldn’t tell him because she didn’t have an exit plan for the kitten.

A few months ago I noticed that the little kitten was growing and her belly seemed to be expanding. I just thought she was well fed.

It was my wife who realized what was happening at that moment.

“That kitty better not be pregnant,” my wife said in the most alarming way.

She looked at me and said, “Stop smiling. I can see it.”

It was a very exciting day for me to realize that my little kitten would have another little kitten. This meant that we couldn’t get rid of the little kitten until he had the little kittens from him.

In due time Miss Kitty had her little kittens. She had to, only one survived. That was white and very pretty.

“If you’re going to keep it, you’ll have to neutralize it. I’ll make arrangements.”

When my wife makes arrangements, you can be sure those arrangements are made.

We had to wait until this little kitty grew to a place where she could feed herself. Then finally we found someone who wanted the kitten and gave it to them.

The castration appointment had been made.

I went ahead, after all, what else could I do.

Several days before the appointment, I looked at Miss Kitty and noticed that her belly was expanding just like before. Of course, I kept this as quiet as possible, but you know how it works.

Looking out onto the porch, my wife said, “Oh no, it can’t be like that.”

Not knowing what he was talking about, I asked him and was informed that he thought Miss Kitty was pregnant again.

After a few days of observation, she concluded that she was pregnant. She then had to call the castration service and cancel the appointment. You can’t neuter a pregnant kitten.

He looked at me with a bitter sneer and said, “You better not be laughing.”

I often laugh inside and try to hide it on the outside. So I was, and I wasn’t going to tell you, very happy that we’re going to have more kittens.

In due time she had her kittens, and this time she had four kittens, and they all lived. He must be the same father because one of them was all white.

What are we going to do with all those little kittens, I’m not quite sure. But I’m going to enjoy them while we have them.

As I watched Miss Kitty nurse her little kittens, I thought of a Bible verse. “When the ways of a man are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7).

Seeing Miss Kitty and her little ones brought me peace. I can forget what’s going on in the world and focus on peace right here with Miss Kitty and her little ones.