I came to you as a child, dumped on the street by unkind people. On my way to becoming a mother, you took me in. You expected nothing of me. You opened your doors, you fed me.

I was afraid of you. I could not show love because I had no knowledge of it. I did not know how to play because I had never been given an example. Soon I felt urgency within me, I had to find a place for the event that was to come.

When it came the pain was hard to understand, but from within me came life, and with it came love, both from the little ones and from within me. What joy I felt. Life had meaning for the first time.

By now I had become more trusting for you were showing me love and special attention. I brought my little ones to your door. Like me, you took them in. I now had a safe refuge. Part of my burden was lifted from me. I was happy. I had a master.

There came a time when it was normal for the little ones to start their life on their own. Unlike the other people, you found loving homes for them. They weren't cast out on the street like I had been. I was sad and would miss them for a time, but content trusting that no harm would come to them.

Then you taught me how to play, how to feel safe, how to show love because I was experiencing a good example of it. I had a family. I had a home. One daughter was returned and I had tension from that. But I soon accepted her again and we played together. She became my companion. I was no longer lonely.

You showed patience with me from the very beginning. Later, when I played on your desk you played with me. I wanted to be near you and I followed you where ever I could. When I called out you would listen and you understood me. You knew what I wanted. You were there for me, to open the door, to put me on my post, to scratch my head for me and show me affection.