Once upon a time…
Everyone in the neighbourhood knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat. He loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love.
The combination of these things together with a life spent outside had taken their toll on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a hole. He was also missing an ear on the same side. His left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time because it had healed at an unnatural angle. This made him look like he was always turning the corner. Every time someone saw Ugly they had the same reaction. “That is one UGLY cat!”
The neighbourhood children were warned not to touch him. The adults threw rocks at him and turned the hose on him when he came on to their property. In spite of the way people treated him, Ugly always had the same reaction.
If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around your feet in forgiveness. Whenever he spied children, he would come running. Meowing talkatively, he would bump his head against their hands, begging for love. If you ever picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt or earrings – whatever he could find.
One day Ugly shared his love with a new neighbour’s dogs. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. Lisa heard the commotion and raced across the road to where Ugly was laying. He was a mess. It was clearly apparent that Ugly’s sad little life was almost at an end.
As she picked him up, Lisa could hear him wheezing and gasping. Ugly let out a tiny whimper and then she felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on her ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and close to death, was trying to suckle Lisa’s ear. She pulled him closer and he bumped her head with his head. Then he turned his one golden eye towards Lisa, and she was surprised to hear the distinct sound of purring.
Even in the greatest pain, Ugly, the battled scarred tomcat was only asking for a little affection and compassion. At that moment Lisa thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature she had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch her. He didn’t try to get away or struggle at all. Ugly simply looked up at Lisa, completely trusting in her to relieve his pain.
Ugly died in Lisa’s arms before she could get inside, but she sat there and held him for a long time afterwards. Lisa reflected on how one scarred, deformed little stray could instantly alter her belief about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally.
Ugly taught Lisa more about pure love and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could. He had been scarred on the outside, and she was scarred on the inside. Lisa decided in the moment that it was time to move on and learn to express love deeply to those she cared for. Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, and from that day on, Lisa would always try to be Ugly.
“There must be a stronger foundation than mere friendship or sexual attraction. Unconditional love, agape love, will not be swayed by time or circumstances. ”
― Stephen Kendrick
Moral of the Story:
There is a form of love that exists. It is the purest form of love. It is totally unprocessed and totally untouched. It does not waver and bend with the winds and it does not sink and drown with the oceans. It surpasses all entities, all elements, all emotions, all judgments. It is pure love. To the extent you know love, you become love. Love is more than an emotion. It is a force of nature and therefore must contain truth. When you say the word ‘love’, you may catch the feeling, but the essence cannot be spoken. The purest love lies where it is least expected – in unattachment.
Unconditional, unlimited, pure love is the highest frequency in the Universe. Pure love, loves for the sake of loving. It has no desires or needs. Pure love dissolves boundaries and separation. It is its own reward. We just need to open ourselves to find the source of this true love within us and then embrace it fully in our lives.
“Imagine a brilliant rose of pure love in your heart. Next, see a twinkling flower within the hearts of all you meet.”
― Amy Leigh Mercree
Affirmation: Every cell in my body is vibrating at the frequency of pure love.
I am aligned with the highest frequency of love. Love and compassion are my superpowers, and they will carry me as far as I want to go. I am deeply compassionate and allow myself the grace of imperfection. I radiate pure love, light, and positivity. I choose to be kind to myself and love myself unconditionally. I fully love and embrace who I am, even as I continue to grow. My heart is open, loving, and pure. I choose connection over division. I choose compassion over judgment. I give and receive love effortlessly and unconditionally. I am worthy of praise, adoration, and unconditional love. I am vibrating positive, loving energy, and I attract this same energy in return. I am a beacon of love and compassion. I lead with love.
“You will never know the purest love you can give a person, until the day you hurt because they hurt. You genuinely want them to succeed in life and be free from all the chains that keep them from being happy, whether you are in their life or not.”
― Shannon L. Alder