A tribute to Sandy – our Golden Retriever

Born November 11, 2003 – Died – January 30, 2018

  Sandy, our Golden Retriever loved our yard…he was convinced this little piece of land belonged to him. He especially claimed the back yard as his domain. He knew every daisy that grew there as well as every squirrel that lived there.  He didn’t comprehend that this little piece of land was really God’s domain. It was given to us, and we in turn provided it for Sandy. He just went about the process of fulfilling his purpose for being here.

One day we heard him barking like crazy, went outside to check on the commotion, and found him standing over a baby squirrel that had fallen out of its nest. As soon as we were on the scene, he’d look at us, then look at the squirrel, and whine. Getting the message, we wrapped the squirrel in a baby blanket and gently carried it to the house. Sandy was on our heels the whole way. You would have thought he was its mama the way he whimpered and carried on. Once inside, we had to separate Sandy from the squirrel so the poor little thing wouldn’t die of fright with that big black nose hovering over him.

Sandy wasn’t a squirrel, yet he cared about that very different little creature. Likewise, we’re very different from Sandy, yet we love him and take care of him. When he was upset over the struggle of his little friend, we cared enough to help him.

In a much greater way, God is not like us; He is holy, sinless, and perfect. We live in His Domain, yet not only does He care about us, He loves us enough to rescue us from spending eternity without Him. When He sees us hurt, broken by the struggles of this life, He cares enough to help us through them. He is the only true and living God – Who answers our prayers – and that makes all the difference!

I’ll never forget a woman I met in Brazil the first year we were there on mission. I had just shared how Jesus died so we might live, and how He cares enough to answer our prayers. She came up to me crying, “I have served Buddha faithfully for 15 years. Can you tell me why he has never once answered my prayers?” In a flash, I heard the words rush from my lips, “Because dead men can’t answer prayers, but Jesus is not dead! He is alive! When sinful men crucified Him, God the Father raised Him from the dead. Dear sister, He hears you, He loves you, and He wants a relationship with you! Will you receive Him today?”

She did – and so can you. Here is how: http://www.zookeepersministries.com/getting-to-know-christ/

Until tomorrow,

Your Traveling Companion

Brenda