For years, the children, collectively, had asked for a hamster – three little voices in an entreating, plaintive cacophony.  My husband had always been able to tune this out; after all, there was a finite amount of time that he spent with them.  I, however, lived with this request day and night.  What a small favor they were asking for!  How mean was he to refuse such precious children!  A miniscule indulgence, albeit to relent was to welcome what has been called a “gateway pet” into a former furless habitation. Finally, my husband acquiesced – sort of.  One day, he told them, “When I am dead, you can get a hamster every Friday.” A hamster every Friday  was all that they heard. That was better than they had hoped, prayed and schemed for.  What a bonanza!  What a windfall!  God does answer prayers!  As if one unit, they began to…