There was a cat who was extremely weak. She arrived half dead in an animal shelter, and the vet almost gave up. But then the kitten started to purr. That was it. He kept trying.

She made it. 

The little black kitten became a mascot, and as other dogs and felines showed up for surgery, or treatment, this small cat would cuddle next to them, or groom their fur. She gravitated toward the suffering, and gave them the small measure of compassion available to her. 

No get well cards. No words of sympathy. No floral bouquets. Just warm presence. 

The other day I heard a woman describe her dilemma about her aging parents. They live in another country, and are struggling with health issues. She offered to take off work and come, but her father said not to bother. 

"What could you do? You cannot heal your mother."

The discouragement side tracked her momentum. But then she thought better of it. 

"I can sit there with her. I can listen."

She decided to go anyway. 

Who knows. She may even spring for flowers.