Lessons Learned from a Lost Dog

Christianity

Every day you wake up thinking, “maybe today will be the day someone finds her.”

Our story is a common one, unfortunately.  Looking for a lost dog, we have heard all kinds of stories about beloved pets who decided to journey into the unknown.

So I pray.

Of course I pray.  The creator of the universe is not blind, nor does He ignore the prayers of His people.  He is always working and even in this, this struggle to do everything humanly possible to find her, He is doing something.  While we are trying to be patient, we are holding on to the hope that someone will find her and bring her home.

“Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.”  Luke 12:6 

While I choose not to get into the discussion of whether “All Dogs Go To Heaven”, I do believe that God carefully created every animal and that He blesses us daily with His creation.

This is not our first dog.  As a matter of fact, Mochi is my daughter’s dog who happened to be keeping company with our dog–at our house while we were all away on vacation.

We are a family of Sheltie lovers, and Mochi is the second in their young family.  A new puppy, she was welcomed into their home after their first Sheltie died a ripe old age.

Losing a beloved pet is never easy, but somehow this is harder than death because we can’t know what happened to her.

While we can’t always explain the “why?”, here’s the “what” God is teaching me in this circumstance:

1.  Compassion = action.  We jumped into action immediately.  Why?  Because we love this little fur baby, and because we love our grandchildren who would be devastated if we never found her.
2.  Faith = action.  I prayed.  I am still asking God for a miracle, even after days of no sightings, but having faith also means that I believe God can use all kinds of circumstances–all kinds of people–to accomplish His work.
3. Action = perspective.  Driving around for hours, talking to those in her known path, and working internet sites to get the word out, it becomes obvious that this is too big of a task for one–or even the thousands who shared it on social media.  This is a God-sized task that requires a heavenly perspective.

So, do we lay our burden down at the feet of the One who sits on the throne and stop looking?  Do we walk away and just try to put her out of our mind?  Of course not.  We will always have eyes that are scanning the road she has travelled.  We will always pray–and never give up hope that she will one day be found and returned. (Did I mention that she is microchipped?  Technology can be a good thing!)

Just as in my last post, Turn Over the Turtle: Saying Yes To God, I can honestly say that it’s not just about the lost dog.

LOST:

” having gone astray or missed the way; bewildered as to place, direction, etc.” [dictionary.com]

The Bible speaks of lostness this way:

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”  Luke 19:10

The Lost.  Those who have wandered away from Him.  Those who are going the wrong way.

The greatest news of my life is when Jesus found me.  He saw a little girl who was confused by religion and He spoke to my heart.  Understanding that I was lost without Him, my life was changed when He rescued me, and in that process,

He used people and circumstances and His Word to pursue me.  The God of the universe pursued me with a purpose:                           to seek and save.

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:8-10

As difficult as it is to lose a dog, I am choosing to see this from God’s perspective.  I believe He loves His creation, including the animals He placed on earth for us to enjoy.

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed.”  Genesis 1:31

But hear me out.  While these last few days have been heartbreaking, the Holy Spirit has been reminding me that as a believer who has been “found” by the God who created me, I should have that same kind of passion–and an even greater compassion for those who are lost spiritually.

A compassion that leads to action.

A faith that moves me to action.

and

An active faith that shows me God’s perspective.

In searching for our lost Mochi we have met some kind and caring people.  We have connected with neighbors we barely knew.  We have been prayed for, encouraged, and even hugged by fellow dog lovers.

What if I try to see this as God sees it?  A difficult road that leads to something beautiful.

Not just life lessons learned or even a new appreciation for the blessings we enjoy, but an eye-opening, heart-changing experience.  One that opens our eyes to the lostness of our neighbors.  A renewed compassion for sharing the Good News of God’s message for mankind:

“A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.”  John 10:10

The enemy has conditioned us into thinking that hope is futile.  That there is nothing we can do but focus on our own lives and stop looking for opportunities to show compassion.  Well, he is a known liar.  People matter to God.  His Word is clear and His actions proved how much He loves–so much so that His compassion moved Him to action.  He passionately pursues those who are lost.

Why aren’t we?