I feel like I am disappointing my higher power. - Al-Anon Family Group

slogan_jim · Senior Member

I feel like I am disappointing my higher power.

Mari1978 · Senior Member

You are in fact doing the cat a kindness. You recognize the cat needs special care you are unable to give. Look for the message it sends. A wise person would only make that kind of decision. A selfish one would ignore and possibly cause more harm. We are not capable of saving other human beings. When the time is right you will find a good companion In support M

neshema2 · ~*Service Worker*~

slogan_jim wrote:

I feel like I am being somewhat selfish. My higher power brought me this little guy and now that it's tough, I give him up. But this is really in the cat's best interest for him to get his meds on time.
Thank You.
Jim

I see your actions as accepting reality and realizing that you cannot give this kitty who has special needs the care that he needs...I see you giving him up rather than putting him at risk......To me , this is very UNselfish........please take what you like and leave the rest......

bud · ~*Service Worker*~

((SJ))

You've done a beautiful thing by offering to foster a pet; you continue to do a wonderful thing by understanding that this cat has special needs that you aren't able to provide. Releasing an animal back to a shelter is difficult even when it is for the right reasons; you're doing the right thing, even if it may feel wrong. HP is with you, loving and proud. Maybe there is another kitty you would like to foster that would be a better fit?

In support.

DavidG · ~*Service Worker*~

i spent a lot of my life caring for people, just like your cat.

My mum used to say= you have to be cruel to be kind.

I hated that saying sometimes, but as you see i still use it. -D.

pinkchip · ~*Service Worker*~

You'll have other opportunities Jim...trust me. I had taken back one cat that I spent hundreds of dollars trying to figure out why she was vomiting all the time. I was young at the time...didnt' have the money or the time. Since then, have had 1 cat that needed pills 2 x a day for an atrophic heart condition. Now have a diabetic dog that needs eye drops and insulin shots 2 x a day. I am in a spot where I can do this now and it's not cuz I'm better...just older and have a different lifestyle.

-- Edited by pinkchip on Saturday 21st of September 2013 07:38:46 AM

Jerry F · ~*Service Worker*~

I felt that way myself when I remembered that I had an opportunity to assist an elder this morning and hesitated too long and then went on. Need to practice...no one else came to his aid that I know of. HP understands and is merciful. HP knew I was willing. ((((Hugs)))) smile

slogan_jim · Senior Member

Thanks Guys,

Even this morning I tried to feed him his pills and ear drops and he kept hissing and scratching. I said to myself, I am not going through this everyday, especially when I will be getting up for work.

I feel for the little guy and he was a good cat, but as mentioned I could not care for his special needs. But also, I didn't 'want' to. That's what is bugging me more. If I am away for the weekend, he won't get his meds, if I decide to go somewhere after work, I can't detour home to feed him his meds. I volunteer on countless al-anon service work boards, which is something I will not give up. I can't rush to vet appointments and fill his prescription. it's just another thing to remember.

I guess if it was more than me caring for him it'd be easier, as they say it takes a village to raise a child.

Where the spritual component comes in, is that I recently accepted a new position within my company that is a step up. God blessed me in that regard, I feel like I am slapping god in the face by giving up this cat as if to say 'I won't do this for you now'.

But maybe god gave me this cat so it could be discovered he has seizures, so that he may get proper care. Perhaps God knows I can't care for him the way they can.

grateful2be · ~*Service Worker*~

My HP doesn't bargain with me: if you do this, then I'll do that. That's been more me with my HP at times.

When I don't want to do something, I don't want to do it. No moral dilemma in it for me. I want to do something or I don't want to do something.

The set up for me is when I do something I don't want to do and feel resentful towards God or the human or animal because I chose to do something I really didn't want to do. Nobody gains in a case like that in my experience. Everybody loses.

When I don't want to do something, admit it, and don't do it - I'm never struck dead because my answer was no. I'm just free to do what I really want to do.

pinkchip · ~*Service Worker*~

Besides Jim - you are fostering not owning. Fostering means you have room and some time but it's not at the point where you are really able to own one. That was part of the reason for fostering. Even if you owned the cat, giving it up to others to take care of it would be justifiable but you already stipulated you had but so much time right now. Go easy on yourself.

hotrod · ~*Service Worker*~

Dear Jim,

Bless you for taking the action to care for this small creature .

Remember the slogan " Take the action let go of the results." HP is so very proud of you

Thanks for sharing

Debilyn · ~*Service Worker*~

Jim I have NO doubt hp sends animals to me, or puts them in my path. He then supports me in every way to care for them. Sometimes they die. I know however at least they did not die alone. All they know is the moment, they were loved, warm and comfy.

So that made perfect sense. It was not the right fit. So believe me there are tons of cats who need fostered. I would love to see you foster two kittens already altered or plan to take them back to be altered. Then they would have each other when you are not there. And when you are, they are a blast to watch!

We do not dare think what our HP is thinking. We have NO idea. He knows your heart. So please please bring home a handful of kittens to foster!!!!

love,debilyn

The material presented here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method to exchange information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal level.