An abandoned puppy, Abraham, and Go

His name is Winston. His liquid brown eyes and shiny auburn hair melted my heart. The freckles were definitely a plus. What clinched it for me, though, was his story. Abandoned at 5 weeks, emaciated, and furless, Winston was turned in to the animal shelter because his owners didn’t want to watch him die. 

Her name was Grace—his rescuer—and aren’t we all rescued by Grace? She knew she could fatten him up, treat his puppy mange, and love him back to health. The tuft of red hair on his head and his trusting gaze told her two things—that he’d be beautiful one day, and that he needed a family. 

So she paid the ransom, treated his sickness, and held him a lot. In time he grew strong, and his fur grew back beautiful and red. His belly rounded out and he learned to play with sticks. He followed Grace everywhere, because healing always follows Grace. 

When I saw his picture on my computer (thank you, Tina), I began to hope that maybe there was a puppy out there who could fill our family's dog-shaped void. We arranged to meet Grace and Winston six years ago on my birthday. 

We’ve been together ever since. 

We had to teach Winston many things—how to walk on a leash, sit, stay, and roll over, but we never taught him to fetch. We didn’t need to; it was built into his DNA. I’d never had a boy dog before, or a son for that matter, so I didn’t know balls were important to males of every kind. Winston taught us that they were. 

We improvised for a while with a rubber hot dog, but it was soon obvious that only a ball would do. He preferred the squeaky ones. Not too firm, but not wimpy either. And they had to be pliable enough to squeak easily. 

Every morning he would bound out of his crate and down the hall in a glorious, exuberant celebration of life. The first ball he found became the object of a Tigger-like pounce and squeak. It was his way of saying, “Hello world, I’m awake!” 

Winston’s love for balls has never waned, and his collection is now quite impressive. He has spotted ones, smooth ones, red ones, and blue ones. He has tennis balls, golf balls, and even a Christmas ball his sister brought all the way from Washington, D.C. 

At least once a day we trot out to the backyard for a game of fetch. Winston carefully selects a ball from his collection of “outside balls,” and the fun begins. 

“Ready. . . .” I say as I pick up the ball. Winston's eyes brighten in anticipation. 

“Set. . . .” I say as I cock my arm back. He flexes like a runner in the starting blocks. 

“Go!” 

Even before I release the ball, Winston launches himself in the direction he expects me to throw, his tongue lolling in a great big doggie grin. All it takes to send him running is the word Go. He knows something grand always follows Go, and he can’t wait to begin the adventure. He trusts me to deliver. 

I’m reading through the Bible again this year. This week I read the familiar and always-powerful story of Abraham’s call. 

“The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people, and your father's household and go to the land I will show you’”  (Gen. 12:1).

Go. 

And Abraham went. 

No travel itinerary. No 5-year plan. No multiple listing service photos. No guarantees. Just trust and a promise based on the word of God. 

God doesn’t ask most of us to pack up lock, stock, and barrel and leave our homeland, but he does call us, every day, to go. 

“And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled” (Luke 14:23). 

Go. 

When the Lord says Go, will we be like Abraham? If we’ve walked with God for any length of time, we know that something grand always follows Go. 

Has God called you to go? Have you gone? Perhaps he’s called you to go share your faith with a co-worker, mentor a college kid from your church, or take a short-term mission trip. Will you trust him to lead, guide, and provide for you? 

Then Go. 

And let the adventure begin. 

Here's a fun peek into Winston's backyard fun. If you're reading by email, CLICK HERE to watch Winston's movie, "Go!"

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Is there homeschooling mom in your life? 

Does she need a dose of encouragement as she enters the new year? 

Or perhaps you're that slightly weary, sometimes frazzled homeschooling mom who needs a kind friend to come alongside her.

Why not order her a copy of Lori's devotional book for homeschooling moms, Joy in the Journey?


With a devotional for every week of the school year, JITJ has application questions, an action step, and a prayer. It's suitable for your own devotional reading or for use by a support group for meeting ideas.

Don't start the new year without it!

For more information and to read what other homeschooling moms are saying about Joy in the Journey, click here. 
 
To order a paperback copy, click here.
To order the Kindle version for your smart phone, e-reader, or computer, click here.

         To subscribe to Hungry for God. . . Starving for Time, enter your email address below. 
You'll receive an email asking you to validate your subscription. Don't forget to do so!


Delivered by FeedBurner

Is there homeschooling mom in your life? 

Does she need a dose of encouragement as she enters the new year? 

Or perhaps you're that slightly weary, sometimes frazzled homeschooling mom who needs a kind friend to come alongside her.

Why not order her a copy of Lori's devotional book for homeschooling moms, Joy in the Journey?


With a devotional for every week of the school year, JITJ has application questions, an action step, and a prayer. It's suitable for your own devotional reading or for use by a support group for meeting ideas.

Don't start the new year without it!

For more information and to read what other homeschooling moms are saying about Joy in the Journey, click here. 
 
To order a paperback copy, click here.
To order the Kindle version for your smart phone, e-reader, or computer, click here.