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We are to always rejoice in the Lord and know that He is by our side.
Never get discouraged when tough times come your way, but rather lift up
your eyes and your faith to the Lord and let God know that your trust is
completely in Him. The Bible declares in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the
Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." It is easy for anyone to thank God
when life is easy, but it shows much more faith and trust in God when we
also thank Him in the tough times of life. Be encouraged and remember the
scripture that says, "God will never leave you nor forsake you." Be strong
and rest in Him. (Joshua 1:9) (Proverbs 3:5-6) (Hebrews 13:5)
I hope you will be blessed by this great story.
WAITING AT THE DOOR
My grandmother became a widow in 1970. Shortly after that, we went to the
animal shelter to pick out a puppy to keep her company. Grandma decided on
a little terrier that had a reddish-brown spot above each eye. Because of
these spots, the dog was promptly named Penny.
Grandma and Penny quickly became very attached to each other, but that
attachment grew much stronger about three years later when Grandma had a
stroke. Grandma could no longer work, so when she came home from the
hospital, she and Penny were constant companions.
After her stroke, it became a real problem for Grandma to let Penny in and
out because the door was at the bottom of a flight of stairs. So a
mechanism using a rope and pulley was installed from the back door to a
handle at the top of the stairs. Grandma just had to pull the handle to
open and close the door. If the store was out of Penny's favorite dog food,
Grandma would make one of us cook Penny browned beef with diced potatoes in
it. I can remember teasing my grandmother that she loved that dog better
than she loved her family.
As the years passed, Grandma and Penny became inseparable. Grandma's old
house could be filled to the brim with people, but if Grandma went to take
her nap, Penny walked along beside her and stayed by her side until she
awoke. As Penny aged, she could no longer jump up on the bed to lie next
to Grandma, so she lay on the rug beside the bed. If Grandma went into the
bathroom, Penny would hobble along beside her, wait outside the door and
accompany her back to the bed or chair. Grandma never went anywhere without
her faithful companion by her side.
The time came when both my grandmother and Penny's health were failing
fast. Penny couldn't get around very well, and Grandma had been
hospitalized several times. My uncle and I lived with Grandma, so Penny
was never left alone, even when Grandma was in the hospital. During these
times, Penny sat at the window looking out for the car-bringing Grandma
home and would excitedly wait at the door when Grandma came through it.
Each homecoming was a grand reunion between the two.
On Christmas Day in 1985, Grandma was again taken to the hospital. Penny,
as usual, sat watching out the window for the car-bringing Grandma home.
Two mornings later when the dog woke up, she couldn't seem to work out the
stiffness in her hips as she usually did. The same morning, she began
having seizures. At age fifteen, we knew it was time. My mother and aunt
took her to the veterinarian and stayed with her until the end.
Now the big dilemma was whether to tell Grandma while she was still in the
hospital or wait. The decision was made to tell her while she was in the
hospital because when we pulled up at the house, the first thing Grandma
would look for was her beloved Penny watching out the window and then
happily greeting her at the door. Grandma shed some tears but said she
knew that it had to be done so Penny wouldn't suffer.
That night while still in the hospital, Grandma had a massive heart attack.
The doctors frantically worked on her but could not revive her. After
fifteen years of loving companionship, Grandma and Penny passed away within
a few hours of each other. God had it all worked out - Penny was waiting at
the door when Grandma came Home.
By Barbara J. Crocker
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
1 Corinthians 2:9 "…Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered
into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that
love Him."
Psalm 145:5-9 "I will speak of the glorious honour of Thy majesty, and of
Thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of Thy terrible acts:
and I will declare Thy greatness. They shall abundantly utter the memory
of Thy great goodness, and shall sing of Thy righteousness. The LORD is
gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The
LORD is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works. "
Hebrews 13:5-6 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be
content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper,
and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
Habakkuk 3:17-19 "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall
fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields
shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there
shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy
in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and He will make
my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places..."
All scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: MY BLESSED FELLOWSHIP
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem101.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: ANGELS IN THE ROOM
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony84.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
