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A reflection and prayer to start the day with the Rt Revd Mary Stallard, Bishop of Llandaff.

Good morning.

Our cat, Albus died this summer. His arrival in our household thirteen years ago was something of a surprise. I certainly wouldn鈥檛 have described myself as a cat-lover then. Our family had previously been dog-owners. But, when our neighbours took in a stray cat which promptly gave birth, they kept inviting our daughters to 鈥渟ee the kittens鈥�. So, rather against my will, we ended up with the fierce, fluffy, white, tom-cat that became part of our lives.

He wasn鈥檛 an easy creature to bond with and I had to work hard to gain his trust and try and love him. He didn鈥檛 appear to much enjoy being petted or held. So, we learned to keep plasters and antiseptic close to hand.

But, in time he became a curiously faithful companion. He seemed to know whenever we planned to go somewhere, and would come and sit on (or in), our bags when we tried to pack. If I was working at home, he often came and sat near me, sometimes on my computer keyboard. He rarely sat on my lap, but he often came to sit nearby, and was nearly always present in the room when I prayed. Alongside his feistiness there was a streak of calm and amazing restfulness, which helped me to be still.

I still come across bits of his white fur around our house, and our daughters joke that the scars he left on many hands will remind us of him. As well as these, the love he drew out of us, and the loss we feel at his absence, continue to speak of God鈥檚 amazing and surprising gifts.

Creator God, thank you for pets and for all creation, for all that shows us more about the depth and wonder of your love. Help us to see past the barriers of our preference and ignorance. May we always be on the look-out for signs of your grace. Amen.