Penny’s Story

   One of the great joys of my life is little dogs. Since 2004, my family has owned 8 dogs, and I’ve also done a lot of dog sitting over the years. We’ve been surrounded by chihuahuas, yorkies, and malteses, to name a few, and it has been a lot of fun! 

  The day I met Penny, you could see fear all over her face. Drool was dripping from her mouth, and if we reached for her, she would flatten herself to the ground crying, “Ooooo, Oooooooooo, Ooooo!” It was obvious to me that she had been abused at some point in her past life. I couldn’t understand how anyone could purposely hurt the beautiful little tricolored beagle! 


  As we continued to dog sit Penny, her confidence grew. She very quickly stopped drooling. Soon, we could reach for her without causing a panic. Then came a day when I took Penny out with me, and she laid down in a public walkway, belly up. Anyone could have stepped on her soft tummy, but she was confident because she was with me, and she was sure I wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. 


  Often, when we come to Jesus, we’re like Penny was. We’ve been hurt, and we’re afraid of everything, even the Lord’s hand on our lives. 


  Penny has been an official member of our family since December 23, 2021, when her last owner couldn’t keep her anymore. She has grown in some ways, but there are still things that terrify her. A thunderstorm will completely wreck her peace. I don’t always notice thunder, but I know it’s thundering when Penny appears, and jumps, trembling, into my lap. It doesn’t bother me when she does that! I’m happy she came to me. I hold her, and sing to her, and tell her it’s going to be ok. And that’s how the Lord feels about you and me. He would be happy if we were so confident in His care that the thunderstorms didn’t bother us, as they don’t bother my other dog, Schroeder. But if we do have worries, He wants us to come to Him. To let Him hold us and tell us it’s ok. 


“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” 

                                                  -Ps. 91:2


  I think of my Heavenly Father as I hold my little beagle. I know that if she understood the world, as I understand the world, she would not be afraid. Just as if I could understand the world as my Father understands it, I would not be afraid. 


  It’s a quiet morning at my house. A clear blue sky shows that no storms are threatening to disturb our peace. Penny is sleeping on a rug with her best friend, Schroeder. And she’s wagging her tail in her sleep. 


 “O taste and see that the Lord is good: 

blessed is that man that trusteth in Him.” 

                                                          -Ps. 34:8

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