PEANUT

PEANUT AND THE LAMB

My roommate Jane took a shortcut down the alleyway behind the paint store and found a little dog. His ribs were showing and he was shaking. She stopped her car and got out to see if the dog would come to her. Instead, he crawled under her car. That’s when she called me.

She says I know dog talk and animals will come to me, so I got some dog food and water and off I went. We both sat down on the cement in the alleyway and talked to him quietly and offered him nourishment. He would take a little drink and a bite of food, then run back a ways, tail between his legs, and just look at us.

Finally, after a half an hour of coaxing, he still wouldn’t come, so we called Animal Control because we didn’t know what else to do. But when we started toward our cars, the little guy sensed it was his last chance. He ran over and jumped into Jane’s arms. Then I put him in the front seat of my car and he snuggled up under my arm.

About that time a guy came down the alley. We told him what happened, and that we couldn’t keep the dog because of our aging cat, Snickers. He told us his name was Tony, and said his landlady recently lost her dog and was looking for another. Tony thought our little alley dog would be perfect so we made the arrangements in case we didn’t find the real owner.

Jane put up 40 signs to try to find the dog’s owner. We waited a week, and when no one called, we called Tony back and took the little one over. The dog stayed one night before we got a phone call saying they couldn’t keep him. Seems the landlady had territorial parrots that wanted nothing to do with a little dog. So, back he came to our house.

We called some friends associated with dog rescue groups and they found two people who said they really wanted the little guy. After the third week, they backed out, and now he’s ours. We bought him a bright blue collar and some toys and named him Peanut. He loves to eat and is filling out nicely. We took him to a nearby vet and found out that Peanut had his peanuts, so we got him fixed and now he and Snickers eat together and even play together.

This experience reminded me of the story Jesus told about the lost lamb:

Luke 15:3-7 “And he spake this parable unto them, saying, ‘What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

‘And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

‘I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.’”

God really loves every single one of us and doesn’t want anyone left alone and afraid. “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7).

John 3:16 tells us, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

We took compassion on this little dog, looked after him and are giving him a great home. How much more compassion does God have for us and for all those who He finds in the alleys of life, emaciated and scared and just looking for the right home?

Love, Carolyn

QUESTIONS AND EASY CHALLENGES

1. Have you ever taken in any stray animals? How did you treat them?

2. When animals are afraid, how do you talk to them? Do you think some people are afraid of Jesus?

3. Where does it say God hasn’t forgotten even one sparrow?

4. What does it mean to you that God knows every hair of your head?

5. Cite a verse that tells us something about God’s love for us.

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