By Jim Donovan

Never, never, never,never give up This statement, first made by Sir Winston Churchill as the British troops were going into battle during World War II, is as relevant today as it was then. We can use this strategy in any area of our lives.

Recently, my wife Georgia and I had occasion to put this to the test. Our family cat (and friend) Ming was seriously ill. When we brought him to the vet, we were not sure if the little guy would make it. I cannot express in words the emotional impact this had on us. Suffice to say we were devastated at the thought of losing him. Driving home, we decided that we would not give up until Ming did. We employed every strategy and technique we knew. In addition to what the wonderful people at the Edgebrook Veterinary Hospital, especially Dr. Schenck, were doing to help our beloved pet, we prayed, called prayer groups and found ourselves turning to faith and developing a belief that all would be well. While we agreed that the outcome was out of our hands, we vowed not to lose faith that Ming could, in fact, survive this. I remember at one point saying to Georgia, "We’re not giving up until he does."

We will never know exactly what happened but the next day Ming had improved considerably and was up, walking around the cage in the veterinary center. I believe that, in addition to what was being done medically, our unwavering belief in his ability to recover, along with the faith of the people at Edgebrook and all of the prayers being said, made the difference. Today, several weeks later, Ming, while still not fully recovered, is back to normal. This experience has reinforced in me the belief that one should never, never give up. Whether in health matters (animals or people), business, or any area of life, it is our duty to do everything we can to affect a situation and as Sir Winston said, "Never, never, never, never give up."

Ming’s Story Part II — Farewell To My Furry Friend

It was a sad day around our home this past Memorial Day as we said a final good-bye to our beloved cat, Ming. Ming was more than a family pet. He was our friend.

There have been times when he would do things that made you think he was more like a "furry person" than a cat until, just to remind us he was in fact a feline, he would do a very "cat like" thing — like perform a perfect yoga posture as only a cat can.

Ming has touched our hearts deeply and will be missed by all who had the pleasure to meet his furry being. Some of you may remember Ming’s story, written in my newsletter two years ago, when, thanks to the efforts of many people, Ming pulled through a major kidney problem. That was a time when the power of prayer was demonstrated in our lives, beyond any doubt. We will get through this difficult time by focusing on how lucky we were that he survived that crises and that we had him with us for another two years. Those years were a gift.

Ming will always live in our hearts and he has even left his mark upon the world. He has been included in a story in two recently published books. My own Handbook To A Happier Life and in the new Heart At Work by Jack Canfield and Jacqueline Miller.

I want to personally thank Dr. Tom Schenck, Colleen Nicholson and the Unity church for their loving prayers and actions which enabled us enjoy Ming’s company as long as we did.

Animals are wonderful at accepting life as it is and reminding us to live each day to the fullest for we do not know how long we have here on this earth. We will always remember Ming for the joy he brought to our home and to the lives of everyone who knew him. Farewell, my furry friend.

© 1997, Jim Donovan, all rights reserved