Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. (Psalm 25:20)
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| Rugby, 10, on the day we adopted him: October 20, 2007 |
~Why would we want to adopt a dog who could die at any minute? When my husband, Brad, got home from volunteering at an animal shelter, he told me all about an old miniature schnauzer he met named Rugby. "Oh no!" I thought. We just lost our ten year old dog, Sophie. We were not ready for another dog—especially not another ten year old. Deep down I knew that if Rugby was still at that shelter when we went back to volunteer later that week, we would be taking him home with us. He was. And we did.
~When Brad and I first walked into the room to meet with Rugby, it was evident that he was an old guy. He had thin hair and age spots. He had pointy ears. But he had the biggest, blackest, wettest nose and the sweetest, loving brown eyes! He looked sad. His head was down. His tail was down. I looked at Brad and said, “Remember this day. Rugby will never be this way again.” I knew that with our kind of love, Rugby’s life was about to change for the better and soon he would be happy and joyful.
~Being in that animal shelter, Rugby felt abandoned, lonely and afraid, and his body language showed it. I've felt all of those feelings before. Have you? When have you felt this way in your life? Who came and rescued you? Or should I ask, who did God send to rescue you? You may never have looked at it that way before, but I know that God loves us and cares about us so much that He puts very special people in our paths at the right time and at the right place. Who did God use to change your life for the better and bring you happiness and joy again?
~This week, I encourage you to thank God for rescuing you, and to thank God for those special people He gave you when you needed them the most. I also encourage you to ask God to use you to help someone who is feeling abandoned, lonely or afraid right now. Ask God to use you as the giver of joy and happiness to others who are in need of rescuing!
More of Rugby's story next Monday: 7/2/12
I try to smile at everyone I meet, because a smile can change a person's entire day (and it makes me feel better, too ;) ).
ReplyDeleteAmen. It's amazing how much a smile can change the entire mood of someone and yourself, but don't you find it interesting how many people don't smile back? Or worse, how many people don't even look at you? Keep smiling and keep changing someone's day for the better. :-)
DeleteI also try to smile at people I meet, cashiers at the store or people in passing. I think it does encourage them and I know it helps me. I love how you went from rescuing the dog to how we were rescued. And I like your suggestions in the last paragraph. :)
ReplyDelete