An Illustration of God's Love

                                     An Illustration of God’s Love

We had left for school on that beautiful fall morning. It was cool and damp outside. As we put the dogs outside for the day, Nikki gave us the most pitiful look. She doesn’t have as much fur as the other dogs so I imagine she was cold.  Off we went to school.

To our horror upon returning home eight hours later, only Chewie was there to greet us. He was barking wildly.  Snoopy and Nikki were gone. We started calling them. Then we went door to door in the neighborhood.  No one had seen them. By now panic had set in.  How could we go on without our dogs? Chewie would be lonely and Sammy the cat would not have his play buddy Snoopy.

We drove and drove around the neighborhood calling them.  No sign of them. Finally, we all came in the house.  By now it was dark.  I decided I would be sleeping out on the back deck. I was sitting on my swing, praying for their safe return.  One of our motion lights came on and I heard a noise.  We looked over the railing and behold! Nikki was home!  She came home the way she left.  Our joy was short lived, however, Snoopy was not with her.

            So Sean and I took off in the dark looking for him.  We went up and over a hill, out into a large open space.  We crawled under barbwire fences and stepped on cacti. 

I heard a loud truck driving along the road in the neighborhood.  I heard the truck slow down which made me look in that direction.  I saw a collie in the headlights! Praise the Lord, Snoopy was not hit!! Sean and I started yelling his name, over and over.  It was dark out and we were unable to see him in front of us.  Sean heard a noise behind him and turned around and screamed! It was Snoopy!  There was so much joy, happiness and laughter. Snoopy was even making a joyful noise! 

This story reminds me of Luke 15: 1-7.

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.  And the Pharisees and scribes complained saying, “ This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them,” Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!”  I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Food for thought:  If our joy was so profoundly magnified over two dogs, can you imagine how much more God’s Joy is when one person chooses Him?