Car pooling and a little dog

 

Quite a few years ago when my two children were young and we had a mortgage and one income, my husband worked in the city. Nearby lived two other employees of the same local government authority, one of whom had the availability of a car to use and take home each day. This man graciously offered to share the car each day with the other two employees. Being on a tight budget, the saving in transport costs was a help to our family.

After a few years my husband came home one night to say that his friend no longer had the use of the car and all three would now have to make their own arrangements for transport. I must say that my first reaction was one of disappointment and anxiety – this would add to our already limited finances.

Then I felt God really prompting me. The car rides had been an unexpected blessing. I could either grumble because the situation had changed, or I could be thankful for what had been provided for a time and the savings that we had made because of this provision. I began to praise and thank God for what we had received.

It was an experience which taught me a valuable lesson in life. We can either complain about what we don’t have, or be thankful to God for what we have had and what we do have. Ultimately everything comes from Him.

I was reminded of that this week, a very sad and stressful week in which we lost our beautiful 14year old dog Seb, whom we’d had from a puppy. Even though I’ve experienced the loss of loved people in my life, including my parents, the loss of a beloved pet is a heartbreaking experience. In the days afterwards it’s easy to dwell on his passing rather than his life. Yet I know I can than God for the blessing that Seb always was. I can be thankful for his former good health and the many happy times we shared together.

Paul the apostle tells us:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

And James the apostle reiterates:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. “James 1:2,3

We can be thankful even in the hard times because we know that God is with us in all circumstances, that He is for us and will never fail us.

And regardless of anybody else’s theology, I truly believe that all dogs go to Heaven.