The story of my pet dog, called Shotsky, is interesting in two ways. His personal story and the spiritual story.
Many of us recall the horrible hurricane Katrina in Louisiana in August of 2005. Somewhere amidst those horrifying moments Shotsky was scrambling for his life! Shotsky has incredible survival instincts, and I don’t just say that because he’s my dog, I have unintentionally seen it. Let me fast-forward to July 2007.
One afternoon my roommate and I decided to go visit a rental property I owned at the time. It was about 4 blocks away. I wanted to take Shotsky for the ride, so I put him in the bed of my truck and tied a rope around his collar. It was a longer one (about 10 feet) than I wanted but it was what I had, so I used it. It was secured to the hook at the cab side of the bed.
So after everyone was in and strapped down I proceeded to drive away. Very shortly I was going probably around 35 or 40 miles an hour. I drove down the first block then stopped, I had my music turned up ( as i usually did before becoming a true Christian). Then I hit the gas and went on again, going again at about 40 miles an hour. We continued another couple blocks when my roommate notices this man waving his arms frantically. She looks in back and says “Where’s Shotsky?” OH NO!!!
I immediately pulled over. I get out and look to see Shotsky panting extremely hard, blood all over his paws and legs and stomach. I am in mild shock. He was alive! He is standing on all fours just looking at me. We pick him up gently and take him to this neighbors soft lawn and use his hose to hose him down. Then I grab some rags I had and bundle him up somewhat. Shotsky had run his heart out just to keep up with the truck! Maybe even dragged some of the way. Unbelieveable. So I knew right there I had a special dog.
Eventually Shotsky made a complete recovery, except for some small scars. Guess who fully healed him? No doctors, it was our ever-working Lord! He can run and jump just as good as he ever could. But knowing this we can only imagine the real desire and instincts Shotsky used to stay alive in the raging waters. His owners could have very well died, as I got him from our local dog pound, which had picked up some of the abandoned dogs from there. Don’t ask me how they decided to bring some of them all the way to California(??) But I was told when I bought him for 25.00 that I must wait 6 months to “officially” own him, due to the original owners rights, should they be located. No one came forward.
So Shotsky is quite a dog. Loving, playfull and very intelligent. But the spiritual lesson I wanted to share is this. He is VERY obedient. When I say “Come: he comes. When I say “Jump” he jumps. When I say “Give me a pawn” he does so. I am his master 100%. Our Lord has told me that just as I am SO HAPPY when my dog is obedient to me, so to is He with me. I am proud of Shotsky because he does what I say. It is the same with the Lord and me. When I do the things He says to do, He is VERY HAPPY with me, I can feel it and know it. His is my Lord and Master 100%.
So to summarize let us remember that our Lord loves obedience just like we do. On the flip side, when we don’t listen and ignore His words, He becomes very sad. Let us be like our furry friends, with that 100% loving and faithful desire to obey! amen.


