growing together
Some pets appear heaven-sent By Chris Worthy WNC Parent columnist
“God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there.” —Billy Graham As an adult, I’ve made a habit of rescuing enough animals to make Noah cringe. In the early years of our marriage, my poor husband would come home from work never knowing what four-legged orphan would be quarantined in our bathroom. There was one incident that involved a goat, a woman with a tranquilizer gun and a four-lane highway, but let’s just say it ended well and leave it at that. Of all the furry creatures that have crossed my path, none was more important than my sweet Buddy. His family moved away and left him behind. Bud had
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the good fortune to live next door to a kind soul who called me right away. It was August and I was pregnant, but we all piled in the car, made a stop for dog food and went to survey the situation. Ultimately, I put my big girl pants on (and my lawyer hat) and demanded that the owners give him to me. I couldn’t bear to leave him there. He needed me. I knew later I needed him much more. Bud was the biggest dog I’ve ever had — lightning fast and on permanent alert for small furry things. He terrorized the chipmunk population and, once, nabbed a rabbit. Loyal to a fault, he dropped it immediately on command. He and I watched in horror (for different reasons, I would guess) as our other, far less intelligent dog then pounced on the forbidden rabbit like it was a real life whack-a-mole. When I made the mistake of leaving the treat bags for the class Christmas party within muzzle reach, the carnage was unbelievable. Buddy ate everything except the snowman erasers and the candy canes.
Through many years, that gorgeous yellow dog was my constant companion. I don’t take that generous gift lightly. I am of the belief that as we serve others, God gives to them through our hands, our efforts and our minds. Of course, he doesn’t need us to accomplish anything really, but through these human vessels, he loves both the giver and the recipient in a supernatural way. And sometimes, God loves us through licks and soft fur and paws on the arm. Often, if we let him, he sends angels to meet needs we don’t yet know we have. I know what it is to have a dog follow me everywhere, to sit with me during the hard times and to bring me an exquisite joy that is unlike anything else in this life. After 15 1/2 years, letting my sweet Bud go was a gift to him. He was, without a doubt, heaven-sent. Sometimes, those angels we entertain unawares? They have four legs and the sweetest wet noses. Contact Chris Worthy at chris@worthyplace.com.
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