From November 26, 2022 post.
Dianne’s Doghouse
“MERRY CHRISTMAS”
When my girls were four and five-years-old, I decided they needed a puppy. It was time for them to learn to care for one of God’s furry little creatures: to be kind, to feed and water, and to learn a sense of responsibility at this young age. A Sheltie seemed to be the right choice—small enough, so the girls didn’t get knocked over, but large enough to play with.
On Christmas Eve, after the girls were in bed, the baby Sheltie arrived. She was shy and cuddly. I kept her in a crate far away from the girl’s bedroom. On Christmas morning, I fed and walked the puppy, put a red bow around her neck, and placed her under the tree. “Stay puppy.” She did.
When the girls came out into the living room and saw the puppy they giggled with delight. All day they cared for their new friend, bathing her, feeding her tidbits of dog food, and snuggling all together at nap time. They named her “Christmas Joy.”
About 7 p.m. Christmas night, the girls burst into tears and were so inconsolable with blubbering sobs, that I couldn’t figure out where their pain was coming from. Finally, they calmed down and asked when Santa was going to take Joy, back to the North Pole. They thought Santa was only going to let them have their gift for one day!
How do I explain this?
“Girls, you have been given your puppy as a gift, to keep just as God gives grown-up people gifts. Remember the Bible story we read the other night about the talents? The Master had three servants and gave each servant a gift of money. Two of the servants doubled their money. The third servant buried his money and lost it. You have been given this puppy as a gift. If you are mean and mistreat her, you could lose her. But, if you take good care of her, God will allow you to move on to greater things your heart’s desire.”
The puppy helped my girls grow up. She helped ease them into the role of becoming a mom. Bathing a reluctant puppy was good training for bathing a squirming, uncooperative baby. Disciplining with firm words gave them confidence to discipline a wayward toddler.
God in His wisdom gave my girls Christmas Joy, before He gave them Luke and Reid, and Mya, Sara, and Chloe. Who knows what amazing things are in store for my girls who are faithful to Him.
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21
Blessings, and love, and Merry Christmas,
Dianne Hammontree, Secretary of Homeward Bound Dog Shelter
Original source can be found here.
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