Please Show Love and Kindness

Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Lola was. Lola was the resident tomcat. Lola 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 Lola. To start with, she had only one eye, and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. She was also missing her ear on the same side, her left foot has appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making her look like she was always turning the corner.

Her tail has long age been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which she would constantly jerk and twitch. Lola would have been a dark gray tabby striped-type, except for the sores covering her head, neck, and even her shoulders with thick,
yellowing scabs. Every time someone saw Lola there was the same reaction. “That’s one ugly cat!!”

All the children were warned not to touch her, the adults threw rocks at her, hosed her down, squirted her when she tried to come in their homes, or shut her paws in the door when she would not leave. Lola always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on her, she would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at her, she would curl her lanky body around feet in forgiveness.

Whenever she spied children, she would come running meowing frantically and bump her head against their hands, begging for their love. If ever someone picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever she could find.

One day Lola shared her love with the neighbor’s huskies (Eeyo dhib badan). They did not respond kindly, and Lola was badly mauled. From my apartment I could hear her screams, and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Lola’s sad life was almost at an end.

Lola lay in a wet circle, her back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down her front. As I picked her up and tried to carry her home I could hear her wheezing and gasping, and could
feel her struggling. “I must be hurting her terribly,” I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear.

Lola, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled her closer to me, and she bumped the palm of my hand with her head, then she turned her 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 Lola was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did she try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Lola just looked up at me completely trusting in me to
relieve her pain. Alaah waan soo daahey yaakhey miskiin!

Lola died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held her 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.

Lola 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. She 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 truly and deeply.

It was time to give my all to those I cared for. Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be like Lola.

Walaalayaal it is Ramadan and we will all have to not only fast but also show love and kindness to our brothers, sisters, friends, and to all animals around us. Thank and Happy Ramadan Kariim walaalyaal