silver lining of cats

(One note: this was originally published in my beachwalks blog a few minutes ago.)

Back in late November, I had sent an email to my niece down in Mexico.
She is Tony's one-and-only daughter, Hope.
She responded with such happiness that her dad was finally in the transitional center!
She also had the following message:
"I also wanted to ask for your help….We are still in Mexico and we have a taxi here that is one of our main sources of income. It got hit by a drunk driver a week and a half ago and it took on some heavy damage. But no engine damage. It’s going to cost us 18,000 pesos, roughly 900 dollars to fix but we’ve gotten 15,000 together so far, and with Thanksgiving coming up I doubt we’ll be doing anything with this still going on and here money is a hard thing to come by. So I wanted to ask you if you can and if you would like to help us, with anything you can, it would be greatly appreciated. I know I don’t ever ask for anything, and this is hard for me, but I thought I’d try. Love you lots."

As much as I wanted to help her financially, I knew I did not have the funds.
She thanked me for even considering helping.
Time passed on, as it does.
I sent her some photos of Tony from our visits and she again responded.
She also let me know that they had not yet been able to get the taxi repaired. Could I perchance speak to her Dad and to Smitty about the money they still needed?
I assured her I would.
I spoke with them last Sunday, when Tony was on a nine-hour pass at my house. Smitty had dropped in to get the saw he had loaned me for the yard work.
I was shocked by their response to her request.
Tony told me he was not allowed to have that much money. I reminded him that the CTC would allow him to send $250 to anyone, once per month. That sum is exactly the amount she needs. No, he told me, he would not help her.
I am so disappointed in his response. He's been working for three months and keeps talking about how much money he's making... but he is not willing to spend any of it.
Sigh.
Smitty followed suit, not surprisingly.
I suppose he figured that if Tony was unwilling to help, then why should he?
Sigh.

When I wrote to her the next day, I had made a decision.
"Dear Hope,
I spoke to your Dad and Uncle Smitty yesterday about your situation. Sadly, they are not willing to send any money. However, they very much enjoyed your photos! I also let your Dad read the emails you've sent and he sends his love.
I have been taking care of a friend's cats and will be able to send the money he is paying me. Right now, I have $85 for you, but I expect him to pay me another $85 either later today or tomorrow. I will check with Western Union to see what the fee is for sending money.
Best wishes to y'all!
with my love"

I had wondered what to do with those cat-sitting funds.
i thank You, God, for the inspiration.
The upcoming International Women's Day was good timing, too.
How could I recycle the repaid Kiva-loan funds to a woman I didn't know and not send these cat-generated monies to my niece?
Exactly.

The funds have been sent to her, via Western Union, just a few minutes ago.
She will be able to have them in hand tomorrow.
I'm actually relieved to have been able to help her.
Again, i thank You, God.
I don't always understand why events unfold as they do...
but I am learning to trust that there is a silver lining.