Honestly i did not want to share this , i don't want to even right now but i am feeling stuck painfully by the sense of being guilty .
Yes guilty of a murder of a living being. May be i let this dark story release out of me and can get some peace.
When i was in my teens or even before i loved birds. We used to have a swing with an old huge berry tree.
I read many digests and novels ,fables and poetry while swinging on that swing .Even often took my tea while slight movement of swing.
As i mentioned that due to high part of land winters were very hard though not snowy .But mostly windy and heavily rainy.
In such weather sometimes i woke up in mornings and found a dead body of birds or bird which was injured .
Whenever i found an injured bird i brought it home
and put it in my shoe box which had thick cozy
blanket like clothes to comfort it. I apply medi cream and kept them there until they feel better and fly away .
In our village no one ever had pet because they find it an act which can damage their neatness (their opinion) .
Mom was only one from village who not only sent her
girls school but had a pet . It was greyish kitten with
black strips on. It was surprise for we both sisters .But soon she became our most favorite toy .
I must mention here that
My mom used to tell me many times that when she lived on rent in city before coming to village once
when i was baby i strangely got locked in a room and door had not auto lock it was old fashioned
lock which one lock by himself . Later Mom was able to open door but she was very scared because she
saw a black cat running away from the same room. I fell ill for weeks which mom found mysterious .
She was really a wise and broad minded but after this
incident she remained superstitious for months and scared of cats .
So we were happy to have cat who was growing front of us quickly .Soon she gave birth to three kittens and we were happier .
In next winters kittens were almost three months old .
One day a huge thunderstorm came and next morning it was mess in the yard and specially in
garden area .
Weather was extremely cold (could be below zero) . When after breakfast i came towards my swing i saw a bird (may be dove) hanging in the branch .it's
one leg was wrapped in some kind of thread or hair may be ,it's head was hanging in opposite direction
,head down and legs above . I swiftly cut the thread took it in my hand bowl and ran to room as it was still breathing .
In short after two days it seemed ready to fly while wandering quickly in my shoe box and making healthy noise.
I took it in my hands and sat on desk as wanted to give it a goodbye kiss. Suddenly one of our kitten jumped over my hand and hold the bird .A scream which echoes still in my head often came from my mouth .
Small cat seemed insane ,it was not giving up and nor i was leaving the bird ,my eyes must had lots of water running from them and screams from my mouth ,terror and pity for poor little bird crushed my heart and all it happened in sudden and within a moment .I don't remember ,swear of dear God i really don't know how i took a thick stick from ground and hit the cat (who left the bird out of fear may be and stepped back ) as hard as i could (tears).............................................
Next moment i saw the small cat was vomiting blood and she became still at same moment .I still had bird in my left hand which was dead and torn as his neck was almost cut from body .
I sat still with a feeling for which word shock is not enough .Mom came from bathroom and horrified with my condition and all mess around . Those were winter vacations which turned into black miserable memories . Mom buried both in her garden area . School reopened but i could not go for many days . Eyes of dying small cat were following me everywhere .Her blood throwing mouth and painful face was tearing my soul.
I knew i did not do it deliberately but i knew that did it , i killed our cute little cat who's mom was like our family member .It was an instant reaction but it eats me innately .
My conscience charged me guilty with murder of and innocent cat who i don't know why did that weird act suddenly .This is an only burden but weighs alot .It is not letting be my joys complete and my soul lighter .
I gathered this courage with effort to share this dark story with you my precious friends .Please say what you think is right ,be neutral .
Take great care dears .
God bless you all!
Sounds as your reaction was to save the bird, not hurt the cat. Put it in God's hand and let it go, I am sure you are forgiven in his eyes.
ReplyDeleteDo you think so!
DeleteThank you for encouraging Joe!
Dear Baili, even as adults we sometimes are trying to do the right thing and it goes awry. Don't be so hard on yourself, you were just a child and could not see the dangers that having both a bird and cat in the house at the same time could potentially cause. It was an innocent mistake. Forgive yourself and put it to rest for your own peace of mind. I hope you feel better having released that story to the universe.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Carol
You did not intend hard, Baili. Forgive yourself and let it go.
ReplyDeleteStuff happens and it was a simple reaction. Quit beating yourself up, it was not your fault. Time to let it go.
ReplyDeleteOh Baili, I feel your pain but it was totally not your fault, you have such a soft good heart.
ReplyDeleteMy dear Friends Carol , christin ,Marie and Sharon thank you so much for kind words and concern.
Deletei respect the sweetness of your loving hearts for me !
Oh, baili, I feel the pain in your words. Years ago I was struggling with how to forgive someone close to me. I found a very good book that changed my whole outlook on forgiveness. In a nutshell, what the book said was that to forgive someone you must realize that we ALL do the best we can with the knowledge we have at that time. No one wakes up in the morning thinking "how can I hurt someone today" . . . I think this applies to ourselves too. You were young, you felt protective of the bird, you didn't have enough life experience to be in good control of your emotions. And you were faced with a very hard choice between two animals you felt loving toward. Many adults would have a hard time with that choice. I know I would. You did the best you could at the time. Forgive yourself.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a kind person; I can understand why this still bothers you. I think these mistakes that we make (and we all make them in some form or another, unless we are extremely lucky) - the mistakes make us better people going forward.
When my husband and I were married, and we were ready to leave for our honeymoon, some of our relatives had blocked our cars in with their cars, a joke to make us think we could not leave. One of the cars was mine, and I had the keys, so I got in and quickly backed it away from the car we were taking on our trip. I was upset and did it without checking behind. It happened that my only brother and his little girl were behind the car. Only by moving quickly did they escape getting hurt, by ME. I felt horrible. And I've never forgotten it. I am always careful backing up now, no matter how impatient or upset I am. I am just very lucky that I did not cause a tragedy that day. Sometimes luck is on our side, and sometimes it is not. I think the day you describe in your life, luck was not with you. But everything that happens affects who we become, and perhaps you have an extra measure of empathy because of what happened to you.
Dear Jenny i am honoured that you read me with such love and responsed with such concern!
Delete(Tears in my eyes), oh yes i have much of them)
Reading about accident that happened unwillingly by you to your precious loved ones made me shiver............
It was indeed the Grace of Lord that it did not turn into an unforgivable tragedy .
Thank you sooo much for sharing your heart with me my precious friend! It certainly helps me to feel at ease as those living being were not humans at least!
Yes this incident made me more kind to everyone around me ,this fear that may anybody should not be hurt by me keeps me be more humble and gentle to others ,at least i try it from my side all the time . i ask for forgiveness from my Creator but could not forgive myself .
sharing this post turned a positive and blessed experience for me .and i am sure that i will succeed to uproot this self blaming from my insidious world completely soon.
I agree with Joe, first off the cat did what was natural for it, and you also did what is natural for you, that was to protect the bird, your intention was definitely not to kill the cat but to save the bird. You have definitely been forgiven by God and really did nothing wrong intentionally, I agree you should let it go and to not think bad of yourself because of what happened while you were protecting the little bird.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jimmy!
DeleteI am sitting for breakfast but first wanted to see words from my dear friends including you!
I feel BLESSED TO HAVE YOU ALL WITH ME!!!
Baili,
ReplyDeleteHug.
Just hug.
Thank you dear Sandi!
DeleteFor holding Me!!!
I am sorry that you had such a traumatizing experience. I also love animals and I think that I would have felt the same way. You were trying to save the bird. You meant to do the right thing. You did not intentionally hurt that cat. I know that something like this may hurt no matter what people say, but I hope that you do find some peace. Take care.
ReplyDeleteBrian this incident is the only thing that is Burden on my conscience.
DeleteWhenever I am happy it peek from any corner of my heart and pinch hard .
Thank you so much for precious kind words .
I am sure they will help me to rise within painful sense of guilt
I don't know what to offer that might compare with the excellent comments over mine. I can only say, such things happen to us and we learn. Be at peace. Be at peace.
ReplyDeleteThank you my friend for kind support.
DeleteI really appreciate this!
It was a natural reaction for you to protect the bird.
ReplyDeleteAm sure God forgave you a long time ago for your innocent reaction that caused another consequence. Now you need to forgive yourself xx
Dear Cherie thank you for taking time to drop me some support.
DeleteGod knows what we have inside and thus he knew my intentions hopefully
We are all so hard on our adult-selves, beating ourselves up for spontaneous actions of our child-selves. Hopefully sharing your story will ease your pain. If not, sit quietly and imagine adult-Baili pulling child-Baili onto her lap, holding her tight and telling her that it's okay, and praising her for her nurturing love of birds and cats.
ReplyDeleteYou are a wonderful soul, my friend.
Thank you dear Toni!
DeleteYour beautiful advise worked for me my friend!
Little baili cried as never before. So did I.
May that tears took the lament along
This is such a sad story. I am sure you did a good thing by rescuing the little bird from the plight of hanging from the line. That was a good thing. You have a kind heart. The kitten did what it does naturally. Cats eat birds in order to continue living. It may have been heart-breaking but it was not bad when it attacked the bird. Since you have a kind heart your first instinct was to protect the bird because it was injured. You did the first thing you thought of and hit the kitten with the stick because that was the first way you saw to accomplish what you needed to do. Not any of you were wrong. Each was doing what comes by nature. I am sorry the animals died. It was not the fault of any. You are too hard on yourself. Continue to love and your rewards will continue as well.
ReplyDeleteDear Emma what hurt most to think about complexity of human nature .
DeleteI cannot bear to even think that i have such instinct inside me which can be as horrible for any living being
Your beautiful and caring soul shines forth in this story. It is truly sad that both animals died and I agree with the others that you were trying to save the bird. Sometimes in our haste, we forget the larger consequences of our actions. You were but a child. Sometimes it's hard to forgive ourselves but one of God's great gifts is forgiveness. I wish you many blessings my friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you my precious fellow!
Deleteit was as instant reaction as a blink of an eye!
i could not find out what am i going to do and what have i done !
but later guilt hold my heart as tight as will squeeze it to death.
in almost 30 years it healed but there remained some pain under the surface which keep yelling at me once in while
Baili, if I were you, I would do exactly the same. I wouldn't let the cat eat the bird in front of my eyes. This is what you did. Do not blame yourself. You did not mean to kill the cat. So do not feel guilty. Accidents happen. Kisses, my friend.
ReplyDeleteIt was not your fault.
ReplyDeleteThat's Nature.
Tahat can sometimes be very cruel.
You Baili are such are caring soul. That was nature what happened, not your fault. You nursed the bird back to health, you can heal but the cat my it's nature wanted that bird - that's life at times :)
ReplyDeleteThank you dear Margaret and Pedro!
Deleteyour kind response is acknowledged and appreciated much more here
It was not your fault, it was an instinctive reaction to save the bird.
ReplyDeletethank you dear Ausiroo!
Deletefor your sweet visit and support!
Oh, I'm sorry, Baili. We all have tragic stories like these, I think. We try so hard to do the right thing......but sometimes it turns out tragically. You have to forgive yourself and then remember to use that grace to forgive others for their mistakes. Then the little deaths will not be in vain. Sending hugs and blessings so you will smile. xo Karen
ReplyDeleteOh dear what a very sad story. If it helps I as a child accidently fell on my brother's pet mouse and squashed it with my hand so I feel your pain.
ReplyDeleteBig Hugs xx
There are memories that plague us all. Glad you could let this one out and hopefully let it go.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good heart, Baili. Maybe for that brief moment you were trying to protect the bird. I'm sorry you kept this inside your heart all this time. Sending you a comforting hug, my dear.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
It was never your intention to kill the cat but a swift action to safe the bird from the cat. It is good that finally you have managed to get it out from your system and need not have to entertain false guilt! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThank you dear Karen, Annie, Prunella, Red rose and Nancy for your precious kind words to support Me!!!
DeleteHi, Baili! I'm easing back into blogging after taking a break. I was overwhelmed by all I needed to do after a lot of traveling and being so sick in August, and then I have cataract surgery coming up, so lots of appointments. connected with that.
ReplyDeleteSo I promised myself that I would sit down and read all of your posts that I had missed during my breaks. You are an amazing person, and I love how much you share yourself with others. You are the farthest thing from the Most Boring Person on the Planet. You think and feel deeply and have experienced so many things that are very different from my life. What strikes me is your faith, intelligence, compassion, and uniqueness.
This post is so sad ~ But you must let this dark memory go! The cat was just following its instincts, as were you in trying to protect the bird. God knows your heart, Baili, and it is beautiful. Yes, I believe in conscience, and it is your strong conscience that is making you feel so deeply about this tragic event.
I smiled, okay, laughed a little reading about your "flaws." They are so similar to mine. I always listened to the radio while doing homework. I used to sneak out of my bedroom and listen to the tv long past my bedtime, and my parents never realized it. And reading ~ my goodness, even today I'd go crazy if I couldn't read.
I loved the story of your long walk and conversation with your husband in Islamabad. What a special memory. You have been blessed with a loving and respectful relationship. I love that your hubby rubs your shoulders and makes you tea and that he supports your being you. Not all men are so confident and secure in themselves that they can let their wives be themselves.
I also loved learning more about the women in your country. I was watching a short video on PBS last night about young women who are learning mountain climbing in Pakistan. You and Malala are my personal images of courageous women in your country.
Your story about Hina and her attitude towards studying had me shaking my head at her craziness. I took the equivalent of your state exams during my last year in high school. We called them "Provincials." When I went to write my first three hour exam I threw up at the entrance to the exam room because I was so nervous. I always pressured myself about grades. You had a much healthier attitude!
I'm glad that your son is settling in and enjoying his studies. I hope he doesn't find Germany too cold! We've been having wild swings of temperature here in Colorado.
As for diplomacy and hypocrisy:
Diplomacy is dealing effectively with other people, person to person or country to country, in a sensitive and thoughtful way.
Hypocrisy is pretending to have high morals, principles, or religious beliefs while acting the opposite way. Hypocrisy is the human characteristic I hate perhaps most of all. I especially dislike hypocrites who tell you how you should live when secretly they don't follow their own advice ~ Like the anti-abortion congressman who sponsored a bill in Congress to make it a crime to have an abortion after twenty weeks and then told his mistress to get an abortion when he thought she was pregnant. Or the evangelical preachers who talk about family values and the importance of marriage while they're sneaking around having affairs with women who are not their wives. Or the attorney general and later governor of a state who ruthlessly prosecuted prostitutes in his state while hiring them for his pleasure in another state. Hypocrites make me crazy, and too often they are religious or government leaders.
Well, I have to run. My husband is pacing around the kitchen looking hungry. So I'd better get dinner!
I have so enjoyed catching up with you, and I hope I don't fall this far behind again! Sending you hugs and love!
Yikes! Sorry this is so long!
DeleteDear Louise you are are beyond generous my precious friend!
DeleteI don't have appropriate words to say you
THANK YOU SOOOOÃ’OOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....MUCH FOR TAKING YOUR PRECIOUS TIME AND READING ME!!!
I am truly honoured and overwhelmed by your love and affection towards Me!
I am sorry about your surgery. Hope and pray that you are feeling better now!
Missed reading your beautiful profound and inspiring posts lot!
Glad you are back my friend!
Yes I am dam lucky to have really wonderful, responsible, caring and loving life partner!!!
I am not a good diplomate so don't have much friends.
I tried to avoid other's hypocrisy but can't so prefer to be with me and with my family only.
From the bottom of my heart i say thank you again for your kind comments that pour life in me always!
You brighten my day, Baili! Hugs and love to you!
DeleteHi Baili,
ReplyDeleteI do hope you feel lighter now after sharing this guilt which you carried for so long. We all are non-judgemental and we are here for you. All the best my dear,
Dear Baili, I read this post and then all the comments preceding my own. First, you did not do anything terrible because you were not acting malaciousky or with an intent to harm the kitten. You simply wanted to protect the bird you had rescued from further harm. The kitten did not know any better as its natural instinct is to hunt and attack. So sad that you carried this guilt and sadness for so many years. It shows how deeply you care. I hope your conscience is eased by our comments. You are indeed a very special person and I am honored to have met you through this blog world.
ReplyDeleteOh, Baili, this is such a heartbreaking story. I can only image the pain in your heart. But you must release this memory. You did not mean any harm; you were simply trying to discourage the cat and save the bird. It truly is an accident that continues to haunt you. I feel great empathy for animals, so I completely understand how you must feel. I used to try to save birds, too, when I was young. I climbed a high fence once to release a bird tangled in a tree. It was shrieking while it was stuck and that sound pierced through my heart and right down to my very soul. So I went over that fence and into a neighbour's yard (without the neighbour's permission) and set it free. Till this day I can still hear that sound of agony. You see, I understand you, Baili. You wanted to do good. It's just an unfortunate incident that you didn't intend to happen. Forgive yourself and set this memory free.
ReplyDeleteBaili, you didn't mean to hurt the cat... it was a total accident... I can tell how much you love animals, taking in birds and helping them to become healthy again so they could fly again xox Forgive yourself, you deserve that from yourself xox
ReplyDeleteMy friend, I am so sorry this happened to you! But, what you did, was an accident! You did not mean to kill the cat!!! You have a loving soul! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteYour pain comes through in your post... but please it was not your fault, you have a good heart.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan