Janet and I are big animal lovers. In fact, shortly after we were married, we adopted our first two dogs, Sassy and Bobby. They were both mixed breed dogs, but clearly they were predominantly border collies. Unfortunately, Sassy contracted distemper which she probably had before we even got her. It was our first experience with the loss of a pet. Bobby, named after my best friend, lived with us for years and was a fantastic addition to the family. He eventually passed away but Janet and I were undeniably committed to having pets in our home.
Throughout the years, we have had numerous dogs and even four cats. We have come to take care of dogs that need special care. Our last canine, Hank, passed way this past July from DCM (dilated cardio myopathy), a condition common in several breeds that eventually results in congestive heart failure. We lost him on July 25th after two years of intense medication and semi monthly vet visits, heart monitors, special food, more meds than you can imagine and wonderful care from our vet. But Janet knew when the quality of life was no longer tolerable for Hank and we ended up with the humane option. It broke our hearts.
On the other hand, we hope that we gave Hank the best life possible. When we first rescued him, we learned that he had been surrendered twice by the time he was two years old. He was allergic to just about everything and we almost felt called to add him to our home. By the grace of God, we were in a position to care for him and provide the medical care that was required for him to live. He was a joy.
We are coming up on four months since Hank’s passing. There is a void in our lives and we have been praying about and considering another companion. We have thought about other breeds, maybe smaller dogs, or ones that don’t have the high incidence of problems that Hank had. For years, we have supported several rescue operations and we can’t believe the number of dogs that need homes.
Interestingly, we were contacted about taking on another canine project several months ago. A one year old puppy, Ellie, who had already been the victim of a botched spay, experienced complete cardiac failure during the procedure. She was eventually revived and we were asked to consider rescuing her. We weren’t ready yet, but we did receive all the paperwork on her and it included details of her near death experience as well as everything else that could be determined about her.
On one of her heart reports, I noticed that her given name was Elisheva… they called her Ellie for short. An odd name for a dog, but my curiosity was piqued. I did some research and found that she had been surrendered by a devout family that could no longer care for her. Dad had a heart transplant and they couldn’t continue the financial burden or care of a pet. And Ellie had her own heart issues that she had dealt with earlier in life that were beyond the ability of the family to take care of. I understand…
My research also revealed that Elisheva is a Hebrew name and means “devoted to God”, or “pledged to God.” How cool is that! It sounds like her original family led very faith filled lives. Our English equivalent is the name “Elizabeth”, something I would have never known without doing my research.
This afternoon, my curiosity got the best of my and I wrote Stephanie, the head of the rescue that we are working with – she told me that Ellie has been adopted and is doing great in her new home. I certainly hope that whoever rescued her realizes what a special creature of God’s kingdom they have taken responsibility for. What a blessing for them and for Ellie.
There are many people in the Bible who were dedicated to God. They were dedicated as a sign of respect and worship of God, giving their children to the service of the Lord. In fact, today in many churches, people dedicate their children to the Lord. This is different than a baptism, whereby the parents generally look to the church, as well as members of the church, to help surround their children with love as they grow in their faith.
Our verse for tonight is from the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel. Hanna, a woman who was very devout, was praying for a son. She vowed that if God granted her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord’s work. God answered Hanna’s prayer and our verse highlights the promise that Hannah made to God when her son, Samuel, was born. We are told, in 1 Samuel 1:11, 26-28, “and she said to him, “As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.”
My encouragement this evening is that God desires our obedience and our service to Him. Whether we dedicate our children, ourselves or our families and pledge them to the Lord, God notices our sincerity and intention to serve Him. My prayer is that we will all realize that those who are the most content are those whose greatest joy comes from a close relationship with God. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…