By RaeLynn DeAngelis
A few weeks ago, I posted a blog called Puppy Love. I shared how a middle-aged man walked his elderly dog past our house every day and the profound lesson God taught me through his example. If you have not yet read that blog, I encourage you to go back and read it before continuing on, as it will provide needed context for today’s post. CLICK HERE
After Puppy Love was published, I received a lot of positive feedback. It obviously struck a chord in the hearts of our readers, including my husband, Gerry.
Gerry is an extrovert, a social butterfly as I call him, and he’s super friendly. He takes every opportunity to connect with people. (I love that about him.) He knows most of our neighbors by name, and he often stops whatever he’s doing to engage in conversation.
One evening, Gerry walked over to retrieve our mail from the neighbor across the street who had graciously offered to collect it while we were away on vacation. (It was about a week after Puppy Love had been published.) Somehow, the conversation drifted to the subject of the man who walked his elderly dog. Gerry shared how I had written a blog about that very thing, and Janet said she would love to read it.
After Gerry sent it, she replied back how much it touched her heart. I thought to myself… you just never know the full impact of the things we do. I was encouraged to know she was blessed, but the impact didn’t stop there. As the well-known radio broadcaster, Paul Harvey, used to say, “And now… the rest of the story.”
Fast forward two weeks. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and I was eager to get outside to soak up the sun, but Gerry was tired and had his hopes set on an afternoon nap. No problem, I headed off to the pool for a couple of hours while Gerry stayed home and rested.
Later, when I got home, Gerry relayed what took place while I was gone. He said that he was in a deep sleep on the couch when the doorbell rang and jolted him awake. After getting his bearings, he stumbled to the door, peeked through the glass, and saw a man standing on the front porch waiting.
The man asked if I was home. Gerry told him that I’d gone to the pool but would be home soon. Suddenly, realization set in that this was the man I’d written about in my recent blog post.
Jay introduced himself and began recounting the story of how Janet (our neighbor from across the street) shared the blog with him and how much it meant to him. It came at a time when he was in the throes of terrible grief; his beloved dog had just passed away just three days earlier.
Jay then went on to share how he had rescued the lab mix from an abusive owner when he was a year and a half old. He gave him a new name (Cubby) because of his likeness to a bear cub, and in time, Jay was able to rehabilitate his pup to have trust in people again. Cubby was his constant companion for over fifteen years until he died at the ripe old age of eighteen. That’s a long lifespan for any canine, especially a bigger breed like Cubby. (I believe Cubby’s long lifespan had something to do with Jay’s great care for him. After all, look how he cared for him towards the end of his life.)
So many lessons God continues to teach me through the story of Jay and Cubby. I see a beautiful picture of God through their relationship. Like it was for Jay and his dog, God comes to our rescue. He saves us, restores us, and gives us a new way of life. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” (2 Corinthians 5:17)!
Scripture says God even gives us a new name. “I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it” (Revelation 2:17).
God loves, cares for, and protects us. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name” (Psalm 91:14).
And when we grow weary, Jesus is there by our side to help us to keep moving forward. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
I have no idea if Jay is a Jesus follower or not, but I can tell you this: Through his example, I witnessed the love and goodness of Jesus through the way Jay cared for his dog.
We may never fully realize the impact of our actions until we get to heaven.
Jay had no idea we were watching him lovingly care for his dog. Gerry had no idea Janet would share my writings with Jay. And I had no idea Jay would read the post and be touched by it. We didn’t know; but God did, and He used it for good.
I love this quote from Christian author, Oswald Chambers, “You can never measure what God will do through you if you are rightly related to Jesus Christ. Keep your relationship right with Him, then whatever circumstances you are in, and whoever you meet day by day, He is pouring rivers of living water through you.”
I suppose the moral of the story is this… Someone’s always watching. Let’s make sure that what they see gives them a glimpse of the love and character of Jesus.
