Grandpa has been looking for a Great Pyrenees dog for the farm. We have coyotes around us and when Great Grandma lived on the farm she had a Great Pyrenees named Barney. He was a good guard dog, but he passed away a few years ago. Grandpa wanted another dog just like him.
Grandpa went to the local animal shelter because they had a Great Pyrenees mix who showed up needing a home. The dog's name was Chase.
As Grandpa approached Chase, the dog growled and lunged at him. This happened a couple of times. Grandpa had to say he was sorry but he had a couple of grandchildren who visited the farm a lot and he could not bring home a dog that might harm them.
About a month later Grandpa saw they had a new dog at the shelter named Kate. She was an Anatolian Shepherd -Great Pyrenees mix. Grandpa went to look at Kate. She was sweet and friendly. Her fur was white, brindle and black mix. When she looked at Grandpa with those large soft brown eyes, he knew she was the dog for him.
Grandpa also saw another little dog at the shelter, a Labrador mix puppy named Nyla. She had been abused and had some scars on her to prove it, but she was a little bundle of pure happy energy. When Grandpa pet her she was excited, jumping up and down, licking his hand. Grandpa knew he had to bring her home too. As it turns out Nyla was already friends with Kate as they had played together at the shelter.
The woman at the shelter explained to Grandpa that Kate was found wandering along highway 59 with a Great Pyrenees and both were brought to Oswego. The Pyrenees had been adopted out right away but not Kate. She was scheduled to be put down, but a woman who worked at the veterinary took her to the No -Kill shelter. She later took Kate home to live with her for about a year but then had to return her to the shelter due to unknown circumstances.
That's where Grandpa came in. He also learned that the woman who had saved Kate was his neighbor who lived a mile down the road from our farm, so Kate was practically back home!
The neighbor woman was so happy to learn that Kate had been adopted again and that she was close enough to come see her. The woman, Judy, stopped by to bring Kate some medicine that Grandpa had ordered for her from the vet. Kate was so happy to see Judy, she jumped up, licked her face and wagged her tail. Judy said she had Kate for about a year, and cried for two days when she had to take her back to the shelter. She was so happy that Kate to had a new home, and that Nyla had a home too. Judy knew it would be hard for Nyla to find a home due to her having scars. Grandpa loves his dogs and they love him.
God loves us too. When we feel unloved and like no one wants us, God does. When life leaves scars on us, and we feel the abuse the world inflicts on us, God loves us.
Jesus loves us to the point he gave his life for us. In John 3: 16 it states "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. "
Like Kate and Nyla have found a home with Grandpa who loves and cares for them, we have a loving and caring God who has prepared for us a home in heaven. What a joy to know we are safe in Him, that we are his, forever.
Dear God, thank you for loving us. Thank you for giving us your love and a home in heaven. Thank you for your Son Jesus, who gave his life for us, what more could he give. In Jesus name, Amen
God Bless
Addendum: I wrote this morning about Grandpa looking for dogs for the farm. I mentioned he first looked at a Great Pyrenees named Chase. The adoption didn't work out for Grandpa taking Chase because he growled and lunged at Grandpa. Well, the Shelter said they sent Chase to a shelter in Ottawa, KS. The Ottawa Shelter reported that Chase was adopted out. We were glad to hear that Chase found a home. God is good, Linda Shields