I can remember that day well. Cold November day in 2017. For several years we had told ourselves NO MORE PETS – ever! And yet, here we were, driving 75 miles to pick up the cutest white bundle of puppy fur ever. We named him Scooter after his dad.
I cradled Scooter all the way home, just as I would a baby. Well, he was a baby – our fur baby. Scooter, a Great Pyrenees, grew to the size of his feet within no time. We loved every minute seeing him grow up. He loved and protected us, along with Teeny, our other Pyrenees, and Buddy, our mixed Pit.
You could get mad at Scooter, but it wouldn’t last long. Once he looked at you with those big dark brown eyes, you’d melt. He had that effect on everyone. Scooter became my confidant … my best friend forever. Then it happened.
Scooter became lethargic, no energy, and just wasn’t acting himself. When we took him to the vet we learned he had a very severe case of pneumonia. The vet prepared us for the worst.
We are in the midst of taking care of him, praying that the medicine will kick in and Scooter will be his old self again. This experience has reminded me how quickly things can change. I’ve lived through this experience with family members, but not my fur baby (all 110 pounds of him).
I used to feel silly talking about my pups. Dogs are mentioned more than a dozen times in the Bible. God made dogs for us to have as companions and helpers, and for the immeasurable pleasure and happiness they give us. I happen to believe pets were also meant to teach us about God’s love.
Obviously, there is something very human about dogs. With all that God created, would it be unreasonable to think that God also made dogs to teach us about His love for us? It seems to me like something God would do.
James 1:17 says: “Every good gift…is from above, and cometh down from the Father” I thank God for His gift of Scooter to us, and I thank God for all of His creation.
P.S: Shortly after writing this post, Scooter passed away. He is without pain now. We love him and the time God gifted with our Scooter Pooter.
Debby Efurd is co-founder of Cary John Efurd Ministries of Pittsburg, TX. She has been a contributor to Bound for Life and written numerous articles published in LifeNews, Christian Post and the Baptist Standard, and is the author of Go Tell It! Visit her blog, The Second Mile, at www.debbyefurd. com and contact her by email (caryjohnefurdministries@ gmail.com).
