Would They Draw a Cat Near Your Door?

A Symbol of Kindness from the Past

During the Great Depression, men known as hobos rode freight trains from town to town seeking work and food. They developed a system of symbols to help one another—warnings, recommendations, and safe havens. One of the most meaningful marks was a simple drawing of a cat near the front door of a house. It meant: a kind woman lives here. She’ll give you a meal.

Think about that. A stranger could show up hungry and trust that someone had left word—this home is safe. She’ll help. And word would spread, from man to man, from town to town.

The Gift of a Cat

One of my most prized possessions is a wooden plaque with a carved cat. It was given to me by a dear friend who was dying of cancer. At the time, I thought it was an unusual gift. I tucked it away in its box. It wasn’t until after she died that I opened it fully and discovered the message written on the back. That’s when I burst into tears.

I didn’t know the story of its significance to hobos during the Depression. But reading her note, after she was gone, felt like a message from the grave. I had taken care of her, been her friend, and this was her final thank you. Her words told me, ‘ You were that person for me.’ Remember to continue to be that person for others.

What It Means to Be a “Good Woman”

The truth is, I haven’t always felt like a good woman. Life can harden us. We get tired. We pull back. But every time I look at that plaque, it reminds me of Bev, and it reminds me to try again. To keep showing up. To be generous, even when it feels easier not to.

What about you? Have you ever doubted whether you’ve been that person for others? Have you had someone leave a mark on your life, reminding you of your own goodness?

Goodness as a Legacy

We may not be handing out sandwiches at the back door, but the need hasn’t gone away. People are still struggling—quietly, invisibly. By the time we reach our age, most of us have experienced what it feels like to struggle and feel unseen. We also know what it feels like when someone shows up anyway.

Goodness isn’t about being “nice.” It’s about showing up and “being a good woman.” Just like those women who offered sandwiches from the back door, not because they had plenty, but because they believed in giving what they could.

The Season of Gratitude and Giving

As we step into October, we have three months left in the year—a natural moment to pause and reset our intentions. People with chalk cats at their doors weren’t remembered because they had a lot. They were remembered because they gave what they could. That’s the challenge for us today: to be known not for what we had, but for how we showed up.

Would They Draw a Cat at Your Door?

How will you be remembered after you’re gone? Personally, I would like to be remembered as a generous and good person. The way the women with the chalk cats did—not because they had a lot, but because they showed what they could.

Take a quiet moment and ask yourself: If someone had to leave a mark near your door today, would it be a cat?

As we enter the season of gratitude and giving, let me know who a good woman in your life has been and who you’ve been to.