God is so
good!!! Earlier this summer we were dog sitting a relatives’ black Lab puppy. She
was a big cuddly, bundle of energy. She was a wonderful, sweet, floppy addition
to our family for about five weeks. Over the course of her time with us I would
take her on daily walks through the neighborhood. She was a pure delight to
watch as she discovered new sights, smells and sounds at every turn. Everything
was a curious adventure. Most days as we walked I would laugh to myself and
sometimes out loud at her silliness. One day however made me cry instead of
laugh. We were minding our own business strolling down the sidewalk enjoying
our evening together, when all of a sudden a vicious, wildly ferocious Chihuahua
(yes, I said Chihuahua) came charging at us. It was yapping like crazy and
nipping at the sweet innocent Lab. The Lab just looked at her very bewildered,
not understanding why they couldn’t be friends. To defend my dog I bent over
and scooped up this out of control beast. I held it in my outstretched arms facing
away from my body and face. All the while it continued in its’ frenzy. I saw
two men up the sidewalk a couple of houses away watching the whole situation. I
tried to tell them that this dog was terrorizing us but they just smiled and
went on with their conversation. I turned and started walking down the street in
the direction of my own house which was quite a distance away. I couldn’t let
the dog down or it would continue biting mine.
So, I stopped and I went to the gate of the first house I saw and slid
the little brute through the bars of someone’s gate. Well, unbeknownst to me it
was the house of one of those men. He came over immediately, completely
outraged that I would possibly put a dog into his yard. I tried to explain, 1- I
didn’t know it was his yard, 2- I was going to come back for it and help find
its home once I had gotten my dog to safety. He wanted to hear none of my
explanation, so he opened the gate let the monster out and it began biting his
own little dog. I asked him how he liked it. The Chihuahua ran away and I began
my very emotional walk home. I was so angry at his heartlessness and also frustration
at my motives being misunderstood.
Over the
past few months I have only passed by this man a couple of times. One of the
times I accidentally said hi to him (because I usually say hi to everyone I pass).
I had been praying for a chance at restoration, and forgiveness in my own heart
towards him.
Well, today
was that day. God is so extremely good. He desires reconciliation for all
relationships. After all He is the Ultimate Reconciler. He reconciled us to Himself
even though we didn’t deserve His grace. This morning as I turned the corner to
enter my neighborhood I encountered a couple of women trying to entice and
corral a little dog who had wandered into the rather busy intersection. I pulled
over and joined in the effort. We got him away from the intersection and onto a
side street which was still pretty busy. One lady got out her dog bones to lure
the dog. The dog was very skittish and would bolt anytime we got too near. Soon
another neighbor stopped to help with his leash in hand. He did get close
enough to get a glimpse of the dog’s name. Then yet another couple tried to use
their own dog as friendly bait. Still the dog wouldn’t come close enough for anyone
to grab. I was praying that God would calm the dog and cause him to come to anyone
us of. Suddenly it dawned on me that I might know which house he belonged to. I
hopped in my car and drove up the street and around the corner and parked in
front of the house where I had had my previous encounter just months earlier. I walked up to the porch, knocked on the door
and a woman answered. I asked if she had a dog with the same name as the one
wandering around. Indeed she did. It was
her dog!! It was the dog of the man I had been avoiding, yet praying for. I told
them to hurry and follow me to where their dog was at. We rounded the corner,
they got out of the car, and their dog ran immediately to them. He was now safe
and sound!!! Relief was felt by everyone involved. The couple thanked us all. The
woman came up to my car window followed by her husband and asked how I knew it
was their dog. I told her that I had remembered seeing a small dog at their
house before and thought it might belong to them. I didn’t make any mention of the previous
encounter. That was in the past. But, I am pretty sure I saw recognition in the
husband’s eyes as he gratefully smiled at me. Only God could orchestrate
reconciliation in such a way.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19, All this is from God, who
reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of
reconciliation: 19 that
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins
against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
