Here's One That Will Make You Think!

I recently got an e-mail from a dear friend downstate and didn't think he would mind me sharing it with you.

He wrote, "I went to work Saturday morning, planning to go
directly to a Sunday school party afterwards. Since I
would be gone all day, I left the back door partially
open - as I often do - so that Lacey (note: his dog) could go in and
out.

After a long day, I arrived home just after 10:00 pm.
Walking in the front door, I expected Lacey to be
waiting at the gate in the kitchen, greeting me with
her tail wagging as she always does.

She wasn't.

I quickly went in the back yard, hoping maybe she was
chasing a squirrel or had trapped a rabbit under the
deck. Nothing. I walked around the porch, and my heart
sank when I saw the side gate open.

I spent a few moments calling and whistling in the
front yard, to no avail. My mind raced. I prayed.
"God, please help me find my dog."

I climbed in the car, absolutely devestated. I didn't
know how long the gate had been open, and had no idea
where to begin looking. She did not have her collar
on, and I knew that there was a good chance I might
never see my dog again.

I turned out of the driveway, not even wanting to imagine what might
have happened if she wandered off in that direction.
Coming to the other end of the street, I realized
there were literally dozens of different ways I could
go about my search. Without really knowing why, I
simply followed the route I usually ride my bike.

It was obviously dark, and I knew that if someone had
found her, she would probably be inside. I drove right
past a couple walking their dog and decided that if I
saw anyone else outside, it might help to stop and ask
if they had seen her.

About a mile from home, and five streets later, I
glanced to the right and noticed some people standing
in front of their open garage door. I knew they would
think I was crazy, but I stopped in the middle of the
street, got out of the car, and walked up their
driveway. Sheepishly I asked, "You didn't happen to
see a yellow Lab running around any time today, did
you?"

Her response was unbelievable.

"Oh, is this your dog?" Lacey popped out from behind
their car, safely on a leash. I'm sure they sensed my
mixture of shock and disbelief as I said, "YES. That's
my dog!" She asked if I had seen Lacey from the
street. To her amazement I told her no, and shared
with them my prayer.

The woman then told me that she and her family had
buried their 13-year-old boxer the very same day, and
that Lacey had spent the day with them. In her words,
"We felt like she was a sign from God that, wherever
our dog was, he was going to be okay."

Her husband took the leash, and together the family
walked Lacey to my car. She hopped in, and their young
daughter told Lacey goodbye. A short time later, we
were home.


I'm not sure what happened yesterday. Maybe my dog is
an angel.

I don't know how my gate got open. I don't know how
Lacey ended up with a family who needed to smile and
be encouraged. And I surely can't explain how, of all
the places I could go, I drove directly to the house
where Lacey was.

What I do know, is that God is good. I know He
understands when my faith is shaken, and when I'm
hesitant to pray.

And I do know that a prayer from the depths of our
heart - no matter how weak and unworthy we feel - must
be music to the ears of God.