The feeling of comfort has many different meanings. It’s something that everyone wants — and perhaps even wishes for, however, it doesn’t always come in the expected form.

The winds of change begin to blow and we do our best to let whatever storms pass. They often bring new things into our lives that help us grow and heal. That’s exactly what happened for me when my family welcomed a new member earlier this year, an addition to our pets.

My mom saw a post on social media from a woman who was seeking a good home for an injured kitten that she rescued. The woman already had dogs and cats of her own, so she couldn’t keep the kitten. She slowly nursed the female cat back to health, naming her Ollie. Mom decided to inquire about Ollie after reading the woman’s heartfelt post.

We unexpectedly lost Bella, one of our cats, to cancer a month prior and debated about whether to get another cat or kitten.

Bella immediately had to be euthanized due to a tumor in her back end when mom rushed her to the vet on a frigid day in January. The tumor grew too big, too quickly — and there was nothing the vet could do to save her.

I heard mom’s van pull into our driveway as I tried to gather myself. Her eyes were flooded with tears when she walked through the door with the empty cat carrier. My heart instantly sank into my stomach.

Bella sent my family a sign in the most beautiful, unexpected way. She sent us Ollie — whom we’ve lovingly renamed Molly. Truth be told, our pets help me through many difficult things everyday — including navigating life with unexpected health issues.

I’ve always had that comfort surrounding me. Molly is continuing to provide me with comfort, bringing back so much calmness and joy to my life. I wholeheartedly believe that she’s my emotional support cat. She stayed in my bedroom for the first month we had her, to keep her secure. She was jumping on my bed and on my lap in a matter of days. I knew then that not only did she feel safe, but so did I. It was a level of comfort that I almost didn’t recognize.

The rest is history. It’s as if Bella knew my family needed to be comforted. Molly has the exact same characteristics and mannerisms as Bella. It feels like Bella was telling us she was coming back to us — in kitten form.

This just goes to show that the world is full of gifts. You just have to wait for the right people to offer them — and be grateful when it’s your turn to receive what’s being given.

Erin Kelly, 40, was born with cerebral palsy in Seoul, Korea, and now lives in Altoona. In addition to this column, her work has appeared in online publications such as The Huffington Post, The Good Men Project, Upworthy, and others. E-mail her at WriterWheels28@gmail.com