DOG

Once upon a time, we had a dog. She was half black lab and half golden retriever. Her name was Anna Belle. She looked just like a golden retriever, except she was black. She was soft and furry. One of my many nicknames for her was my Black Beanie Baby. Time passed and eventually she grew old and feeble. My heart hurt. One day, I got down on my knees, and out of my broken heart came a prayer that went something like this: "God, you put our love for this dog in our hearts. You brought her to us in a way that only You could. Now we all hurt. Bring her to you, Lord. And Lord, heal our hearts. Lord, she has been such a good dog. I know that this is asking a bit much, when there are so many awful things in this world, but Lord, could you send us another dog just like her? Another half black lab, half golden retriever? One that looks like a golden retriever, except it's black? Thank You." I pondered these things in my heart for a while and then one day, I felt the Holy Spirit pricking me that I was perhaps being a bit too specific in my prayer. Shouldn't I love whatever dog God so chooses to drop into my lap? So I prayed again. And this prayer went something like this: "God, was I being too specific? I don't know. I do know she is still dying and my heart is still hurting. And Lord, I still pray for a dog just like Anna Belle. But if you choose to give us one that is not so beautiful and loving and kind, I will love that dog too."

Anna Belle continued downhill. Then one day, in the midst of her slow decline, I received a call from a daughter. She said something like this: "I know where there are puppies. They are the same breed mix as Anna Belle. And they are about thirty minutes from your house." Enter Moose. Now, dog people will know that just because the breed is the same mix, it does not mean that the dog will inherit the same given traits of each individual breed. But Moose did. Only larger. And more goofy. Moose is large and soft and silky and prone to barking at balls that escape under the sofa. He is a beanie baby on steroids.

And Anna Belle continued her decline. Then one day, my husband came home and said something like this: "I know where there is a stray dog. It is behind my office." Enter Scarlett. Now, dog people will also know that rescue dogs are often special in their own way. And Scarlett is. When I first laid eyes on her, she was as skinny as a whippet dog. Her fur was extremely coarse. Beauty was not present. We took her to the vet and found out she had heart worms. Then she snarled at the first dog she saw. And when she snarled, she went from lacking beauty to downright ugly. U.G.L.Y. With no alibi. Ever. Still, we took her home and loved on her and fed her and watered her and treated her for her heart worms.

In time Anna Belle left us to be with God. Moose grew. And grew. And Scarlett grew fat and her fur grew softer. And she grew to love Moose. And her looks became more endearing. Except. Except, when she snarls. And she snarls at all dogs that she considers strangers. Which is all but a select few. Only God knows what is going through her mind when she does this. But what we know is that she is the ugliest looking creature when she snarls. I could try for an entire paragraph describing her vicious demeanor, but suffice it to say she, um, does not meet the standard of a werewolf in London, much less the standard in the middle of a pack of hyenas.

But lo and behold, lo and behold, one day it dawned on me: God had heard my prayers and answered them. Yes. He. Did. He cared enough for me, in my own personal hour of hurt and need to listen to me and to answer me. He gave me both dogs that I had prayed about. Moose and Scarlett walk before me every day as living testimony to God's listening ear and loving heart.

Which brings me to yesterday. Yesterday I had some quiet time. And I needed to get some things straight in my heart. I struggled a bit. But the Holy Spirit finally impressed upon me something like this: "You are not to depend on man. Not your husband, though he is good. Not the doctors, though they are smart. Not your friends, though they are kind. Not your family, though they are loving. (Well, most of them, anyway.) You are to depend on God." At that moment, my eyes were opened, literally and figuratively. For there, curled up beside me on the bed, was Moose. And the Holy Spirit said, I kid you not, something like this: "DOG. Depend On God. You have heard that before. It is not a new slogan. But see here. I have illustrated it for you. I have illustrated it for such a time as this. DOG."

"I am the vine. You are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing." John 15:5 --- DOG

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses. But we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Psalm 20:7 --- DOG