He Cares For You
There can be many thoughts when you look out on a fresh fallen snow. Some of us think about the work it takes to remove it. Others think about how wonderful and white and pure it looks. Children look out and see adventure and fun and all those things’ children think when they see something for the first time. For most of these feelings and thoughts I could become all spiritual but I won’t.
What I will get spiritual about is watching a dog. A number of years ago, we as a family had the opportunity to adopt a dog. She was nothing fancy, made mistakes like chewing things she shouldn’t and she didn’t cost us anything but the upkeep. Kala was a cross bred. Somewhere between a husky and a shepherd. You would know this dog was husky when the first snow fell. Today as I looked out over the freshly fallen snow, I envision in my mind’s eye watching this amazing dog. I’m not sure if she was part kangaroo, but she didn’t run much and almost always bound. She would bound out the door, like a kangaroo until she hit the snow. Then she would bury her face. Over and over she would try to get under the snow. It was fun to watch her.
Our yard was her domain and pity any slow unsuspecting animal who crossed through. She was known to go over, under and through fences chasing those grey squirrels and getting sprayed by skunks. In her early years she did catch a few squirrels and we buried them somewhere out back. As she grew older, just like us, she slowed down some. The squirrels must have known this because we could notice them getting closer to the house and further from the safety of the maple trees.
Everyone knew Kala. She would sit on the sidewalk at the end of the driveway. From there she would watch the world go by. No collar, no lead and only once did she wander away. She would sit quietly and quietly get up when people would walk by. She would greet them and look for a pat on the head. Kala especially enjoyed the children and they loved her.
Like most pets, she lived a pampered life here in our home. Always appearing out of nowhere when you inadvertently draped your hand over the arm of the chair. A wet nose would nudge your hand with expectantly. How could you not resist giving her a pat or a scratch behind the ears?
Our lives changed one day. For about six months, we noticed she no longer climbed the stairs each night at bed time. It was no big deal we thought until the day when she bound out after that intruding squirrel. With a yelp we had never heard before, and a limp back to the door we knew something was wrong.
The trip to the vet confirmed she was not well. We took her home so everyone could say their goodbyes and then she went for her last car ride. Like each of you who have had pets, these are not pleasant journeys. But neither is ours.
Just like Kala, all of us look for love and affections. We want someone to put their arm around us and hold us. Just like her, I am no blue blood, and I make mistakes for which everyone in my congregation can attest. Wonderfully, we have the love of Jesus. And I pray that each of us will feel His arm around our shoulder. To Christ, Especially I pray that each of us will have a love and devotion to Christ as Kala did to us. With love, when we are old and fragile, Jesus will accompany us on our last journey in this life, to take us home. We rest in His hands, He knows what is best for us and "He cares for you."
Rob
What I will get spiritual about is watching a dog. A number of years ago, we as a family had the opportunity to adopt a dog. She was nothing fancy, made mistakes like chewing things she shouldn’t and she didn’t cost us anything but the upkeep. Kala was a cross bred. Somewhere between a husky and a shepherd. You would know this dog was husky when the first snow fell. Today as I looked out over the freshly fallen snow, I envision in my mind’s eye watching this amazing dog. I’m not sure if she was part kangaroo, but she didn’t run much and almost always bound. She would bound out the door, like a kangaroo until she hit the snow. Then she would bury her face. Over and over she would try to get under the snow. It was fun to watch her.
Our yard was her domain and pity any slow unsuspecting animal who crossed through. She was known to go over, under and through fences chasing those grey squirrels and getting sprayed by skunks. In her early years she did catch a few squirrels and we buried them somewhere out back. As she grew older, just like us, she slowed down some. The squirrels must have known this because we could notice them getting closer to the house and further from the safety of the maple trees.
Everyone knew Kala. She would sit on the sidewalk at the end of the driveway. From there she would watch the world go by. No collar, no lead and only once did she wander away. She would sit quietly and quietly get up when people would walk by. She would greet them and look for a pat on the head. Kala especially enjoyed the children and they loved her.
Like most pets, she lived a pampered life here in our home. Always appearing out of nowhere when you inadvertently draped your hand over the arm of the chair. A wet nose would nudge your hand with expectantly. How could you not resist giving her a pat or a scratch behind the ears?
Our lives changed one day. For about six months, we noticed she no longer climbed the stairs each night at bed time. It was no big deal we thought until the day when she bound out after that intruding squirrel. With a yelp we had never heard before, and a limp back to the door we knew something was wrong.
The trip to the vet confirmed she was not well. We took her home so everyone could say their goodbyes and then she went for her last car ride. Like each of you who have had pets, these are not pleasant journeys. But neither is ours.
Just like Kala, all of us look for love and affections. We want someone to put their arm around us and hold us. Just like her, I am no blue blood, and I make mistakes for which everyone in my congregation can attest. Wonderfully, we have the love of Jesus. And I pray that each of us will feel His arm around our shoulder. To Christ, Especially I pray that each of us will have a love and devotion to Christ as Kala did to us. With love, when we are old and fragile, Jesus will accompany us on our last journey in this life, to take us home. We rest in His hands, He knows what is best for us and "He cares for you."
Rob
posted by Robin @ 8:47 am
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