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We should never doubt or put into question our future success because of
past mishaps or shortfalls. We must remember that tomorrow starts afresh
where old things have passed away and new discoveries are waiting to be
found. Do not allow yourself to get stuck thinking only of your past
failures, but rather look ahead with renewed determination knowing that
you have the power and ability within you to paint a bright future even
while you seem to see only darkness. See with your eyes of faith and allow
the dreams that God has put into your heart to be birthed into reality. It
is never too late for you to start anew. Believe this truth with all your
heart and great things will again take place in your life. (Psalm 18:29-33)
I hope this great story ministers to your heart to believe in yourself
wholeheartedly no matter what has happened in your past and see that
tomorrow is a new day with new hopes and new possibilities for you to
thrive in and flourish more than you have ever done in the past.
THE LASSIE DOG
As Kevin sat intently in front of the old 19 inch Zenith television set
with 'rabbit ears' and poor reception, his mother watched her little seven
year boy move almost theatrically as he cheered Lassie on. “Go get 'em
girl, go get 'em!” He'd look forward to each episode as Lassie would save
the day on each and every airing of this show. His mother had memorized
Kevin's question as it was sure to follow at the end of every episode of
“Lassie.” Per usual, he quickly spun around while sitting cross legged on
the floor and asked, “Mom?, Can I have a Lassie dog? Please mom!?”
As she gazed into his eager eyes she replied, “Honey, I'd love to give you
a dog like Lassie, but I've said it before--dogs like Lassie like to be
outside and run.” Desperately trying to convince him she added, “Kevin, I
have told you over and over again that our yard is too small for a Lassie dog!”
Kevin appeared pensive for a moment and then excitingly exclaimed, “I have
an idea mom! I'll teach the Lassie dog to stay by me all of the time so she
won't get lost or hurt!” His mother appeared surprised that Kevin could
creatively think on his feet so quickly.
“That's a really neat idea sweetheart, but Lassie is what's known as a
Collie and you can't teach a Collie to stay by your side all of the time
because they're outside dogs and I'm afraid your Lassie dog would run away.
Do you understand what I'm saying honey?”
Kevin looked down and was clearly disappointed by what he felt was his last
ditch effort to gain his mother's favor as it would relate to his getting
his youthful mind's hero -- a dog and friend like Lassie.
Months passed and Kevin stopped asking his mother whether or not he could
get a dog like Lassie. She noticed his increasing quietness and sadness
with each passing episode and thought back to her childhood. Her parents
surprised her one Christmas with a little scroungy mutt that she adored.
She got this ugly little dog that Christmas when she was about her son's
age and the guilt of not allowing Kevin to have a dog to be his best friend
finally got to her.
One afternoon after yet another episode of “Lassie”, she decided, right or
wrong, to give in to Kevin's earlier repeated desire to have a dog of his
own. “Kevin?”, she asked, “How about us going down to the dog pound today
and getting you a dog? The dog won't be as pretty as Lassie, but I know we
can find a dog that you'd love.”
Kevin's eyes lit up like a 50 watt bulb with no lamp shade as he exclaimed,
“Really mom?! Yes, I don't care anymore about getting a Lassie dog! Can we
go now?”, he enthusiastically asked. “We sure can honey! Put your shoes on
and let's go on down to the dog pound and find you the perfect dog!” Kevin
jumped up and hurriedly put his shoes on and headed directly to the car.
Upon arriving at the dog pound, she asked the old man who ran the shelter
which dog out of all of the dogs there would be the most loyal and well
trained dog for her eager little boy. Without a moment's pause, the man
replied, “Oh, that's an easy question to answer. Follow me back and I'll
show you the perfect dog for your son.”
Kevin and his mother followed the old man back to the last cage on the
right. “There she is ma'am. This would be the dog I'd choose and I'd
already have her myself but we have a half-dozen dogs at home and just
don't have room for 'Fire'. She was taken back as she looked at this homely
dog with little hair as the mutt looked like she had been badly burned.”
After she got over the initial shock of such a sight, she asked, “Has this
dog been burned and are you sure this would be the right dog for Kevin?”
The old man looked at Kevin and noticed his eyes were misting with tears.
“Oh I'd bet my life on it ma'am!”, he confidently replied.
“Ma'am?”, he inquired, “Did you not hear about the dog that laid on top of
the little girl during the forest fire up on Red Bird Mountain? This was
the dog that they featured in the local paper. This rascal saved the little
girl's life and just about lost her own by covering that little girl with
her body!” She thought for a bit and answered, “Well of course I did! Are
you telling me that this is that dog?” “Yes, it sure is. No one has taken
her because of how she looks and I would have put her to sleep but it's
hard to end a life that saved one!”, he somberly replied.
“Do you want this dog Kevin? Sounds like you'd have yourself a hero like
Lassie if we brought her home.” Kevin's eyes had full-blown tears in them
now. “I want her mom! Can we take her back with us?” She quickly glanced at
the old man who was moved to tears himself at this point. “She's ours sweetheart.”
They took 'Fire' home and she never left Kevin's side and was his constant
companion--never once even attempting to leave the yard or run out of the
gate if mistakenly left open. Every night Kevin would say his prayers when
his mother would tuck him in and he never failed to pray that 'Fire' would
be healed and get her hair back. After about five weeks, Kevin's constant
prayers were obviously being answered as the once terribly disfigured
mutt's hair rapidly began to grow back. Perhaps it was Kevin and his
mother's imagination, but the more 'Fire's' hair grew back, the more she
resembled Lassie.
Kevin's mother opted to call the old man at the dog pound as her curiosity
was overwhelmingly piqued. “Hello,” the old man responded on the other end
of the phone, “Corbin County dog pound. My name is Joe and how can we help
you today?” “Hi Joe, I came in a month or so ago with my son and we got the
dog you named 'Fire'. “Yes ma'am”, he replied happily, “I'm glad you
called...been wondering how old 'Fire' has been doing. How can I help you?”
She took a deep breath and asked, “Well Joe, I'm curious about just one
thing and thought you might know the answer. What kind of mutt is 'Fire'?”
The old man softly chuckled before replying. “Ma'am, 'Fire' isn't a mutt.”
Confused she continued, “If she's not a mutt, what kind of dog is she?” He
chuckled again and replied, “Fire's momma' and daddy are both show dogs.
Fire is a full-bred Collie.”
By Brian G. Jett
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth
us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in
any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it
might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I
rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in
persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am
I strong.”
Psalm 118:4-6 “Let them now that fear the LORD say, that His mercy
endureth for ever. I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered
me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear:
what can man do unto me?”
Psalm 34:17-19 “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth
them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a
broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the
afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: IN HIS HANDS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem159.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: THE LIGHTNING STORM
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony60.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
