ONE GREAT DAY (Every one is! Every day is a gift from God!) my mother and I were walking home from the grocery store. We had about five blocks to go to get to our home in South Saint Paul. It was there where I grew up. There was light, fluffy snow drifting down, the temperature was a pleasant one for that time of year. As I was enjoying the snow, looking all around about how very pretty it was, enjoying the crisp air, not far at all from the store we had just left was a small church we would walk past.

 

Friends: this sounds like a made-up fairy tale. But it’s not. This is a beautiful short story about God’s love for a huddled dog…

 

Yes, you guessed it! On the top step of that small church sat a huddled dog, a very large huddled dog. I say huddled because that’s just what he was. This pitiful looking dog was sitting in a sorrowful crouched position that just besieged me to take him home! And he was a big dog! He was probably taller than me when he stood on only his back feet. It’s been so long ago, but I’m still pretty certain he was bigger than me.

 

He looked so very sad and lost — and he was! He needed rescue and he needed it immediately. We were on Fifth Avenue. It’s a busy street, a main street. It seemed to me way back then this dog sought refuge at God’s house!

 

I immediately asked my mom if we could bring him home. Memory fails me as to the conversation. This happened maybe fifty years ago, more or less. But I will always remember no time was taken in her consenting to rescue this bereaved dog. I was so immensely thankful to my mom that she told me I could bring him home. This huddled dog could not have look sadder!

 

We could not have had many groceries to carry, because I was able to carry this now-grateful dog and my mother carried the bag or bags. I think we took turns. He must have known life would get better for him! He put up no fuse: “Don’t pick me up… I’m good.” No. This intelligent creature, one of man’s best friends, willingly and I am ever so certain, gratefully, submitted to my care. Tone and voice are critical in caring for God’s pets. AND: dog’s are one of His most fun creations!

 

Because I was still a young girl at that time, there were much less hard experiences I haven’t had yet in this fallen world. I had not yet at this time ever experienced a vicious dog who, for no sound reason, would try to attack me as has happened several times over my years as I became a woman… thankfully for this particular dog. And because of my lack of fear, I boldly went up to this saddened dog and immediately reached down to pick him up. He gave me no struggle.

 

Who knows what animals understand? God!

 

As you love dogs and watch them you can read their feelings. You can see sheer joy on their faces. Dogs DO smile! You can read their excitement and love. And because we live in a world where sinners abuse animals, they too, suffer at this time in history.

 

BUT: this story has a happy ending. Of course! It’s a “Joy Story”!

We took this precious bundle home and kept him for only a few days. In my home growing up we always had a dog and cat…  That’s why we couldn’t keep him. He had diarrhea and looked very skinny… We loved on him and were only too happy to clean up after him. (I’m thinking about Jesus washing the disciples feet. Joyful people serve God, man and care for His animals!)

 

I loved so much that I could take him to bed. I had just a small twin bed and he stretched out by me, taking up half the width of it and most of the length. He was big! And he was a big lover! You do know that when you rescue an animal — they know!

 

After a few days I had the true life experience of joy and loss at the same time.

 

My mother had found a new home for this beauty. A boy about my age came to take my new and permanent friend home (for animals are in the kingdom.) The boy was right around my age and I knew it was a good age for a boy to have a big dog with big energy (coming from them both.) He named him Ringo…

 

I actually don’t remembered that I cried to see him go. I know I was so very thankful Ringo found a suitable home and would be loved and cared for.

 

Ringo spoke to us with his eyes, his body, his soul… How many people passed him up? Nevertheless, Ringo stayed until his prayers were answered!

 

Please now impress upon yourself the merit of this real life story.
Even a dog knows enough to go to God’s house for rescue!

 

Selah

 

Shouldn’t sinners be smart enough to do the same?!

 

 

SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS FOR THIS JOY STORY!

 

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
Proverbs 8:17-21

 

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.
Matthew 10:29

 

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:5-7

 

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 11:6-9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Folks, get a dog, and get a fan club! Dogs are so loving, joyous and loyal when they receive what they deserve – love and respect.