Bella’s Tale

Bella was one of my favorite dogs, especially considering she didn’t even belong to me. This is a dog story, with a moral for everyone.

A black and white female border collie, Bella was a credit to her species, so smart you would swear she knew what you were thinking. She could cajole even the most reluctant bystander into a game of fetch, bringing you any woebegone stick she could put her muzzle on, and meaningfully lay it at your feet and look up at you with the most come-play-with-me eyes.

A friend of ours, Elmer, had given it to his daughter, Edie, one year for Christmas, but Bella immediately set about endearing herself to everyone. Edie trained her not only in the finer arts of fetching and shaking hands, but to stand patiently with a delicious morsel on her nose until the precise second when Edie signaled; she’d whip her snout up and of course it disappeared just like that. Bella would stay put in the middle of the driveway and not venture near the road when Edie collected the mail, and never ran off. “She knows her borders,” Edie emphasized.

But on January 30, Elmer called Edie about 10 p.m. Edie, 23, had recently moved to town. The dog remained at the homestead, where he had room to run. Edie would visit frequently of course, and occasionally took Bella with her to go visit a friend. Had Edie done so that day, Elmer inquired of his daughter? Bella, the almost-seven-year-old pal, was missing.

Edie was immediately upset, but said no, she hadn’t taken the dog anywhere. The last any family member had seen Bella was around two p.m. They’d heard barking in the woods–maybe, uncharacteristically, Bella had wandered off. The day was icy and cold. Maybe she’d come back seeking warmth in the night.

Edie had the next day off so she went to her home with a friend and they spent three hours tramping in the woods, to no avail. When darkness fell, they started knocking on doors and calling neighbors. No one had seen Bella. The next day, Edie’s friend called a local call-in radio show to report a missing dog. After the weekend passed with no sign of Bella, Edie and Elmer ran an ad in the local paper, offering a reward. Edie made fliers and posted 30 of them around the community and called area SPCAs.

Edie’s older brothers began preparing her for the worst, talking about maybe this was better than ever having to put a dog down, for instance. Edie couldn’t stand such talk: she knew Bella would show up; she wouldn’t give up. “I knew I had to keep trying to find her,” Edie recalled. Her father, to his credit, believed, too.

Everyone was very helpful, Edie said, but she had a hard time dealing with any naysayers. We tried not to think about the coyotes that are increasingly rampant in the region. We tried not to think about Bella maybe cornered by a pack of big mean strays, or with a paw stuck in a ravine during those sub-20 degree days.

Three weeks later Edie casually checked her cell messages on her lunch break from her job, something she didn’t usually do. She began to scream and cry: Ernest Gordon, from Mathias, West Virginia, 20 miles to the west, had left her a long, rambling, message. He was sure he had Edie’s dog! Ernest had spotted her one evening five miles down the road when he’d had to brake for her. Then the next night she had shown up at his house. He and his family immediately sensed that despite no collar, this was a very well-mannered, intelligent, well-cared-for dog. She could fetch, shake hands. Ernest’s family bathed her, fed her, and called her “Grandma” because they thought she was elderly.

Then Ernest saw one of the fliers in town. The flier said the dog would answer to the name “Bella.” Ernest drove home and went to the dog. “Bella,” he tested. Her ears perked to attention! Edie’s dog was alive and doing well.

Long story short, Bella was joyfully reunited with her excited true owners but quickly wore a look of “okay, so I had my little adventure, what’s everybody crying about?” I share this happy-ending tale to thank Ernest for being honest enough to return a valuable, beloved dog and to remind everyone to be likewise goodhearted when given the opportunity.

by Melodie Davis

Meditation: 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. – Luke 15:7

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

The Waste in Worry

If we were to keep a record of all the things we worried about during a given period of time, we would discover–in reviewing them–that the great majority of our anticipated problems or troubles never come to pass. This means that most of the time we devote to worrying, even the constructive kind that prompts us to try to come up with a solution to what is troubling us, is wasted. Thus, we not only caused ourselves unnecessary mental anguish but also took up valuable minutes and hours that could have been spent elsewhere.

To avoid this, it is often necessary to subject potential sources of worry to the coldly objective and analytical light of reason. Once, shortly before a major concert before a standing-room-only audience, a member of Arturo Toscanini’s orchestra approached the great Italian conductor with an expression of sheer terror on his face. “Maestro,” the musician fretted, “my instrument is not working properly. I cannot reach the note of E-flat. Whatever will I do? We are to begin in a few moments.”

Toscanini looked at the man with utter amazement. Then he smiled kindly and placed an arm around his shoulders. “My friend,” the maestro replied, “Do not worry about it. The note E-flat does not appear anywhere in the music that you will be playing this evening.”

The next time we find ourselves in the middle of worrying about some matter, we might be wise to stop and ask ourselves what the odds are of the problem really coming to pass. We may be able to go on to something more constructive.

by Brad Stevens

Meditation: And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? – Luke 12:25

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

One Day

If God gave us only one day of life, it would have been generous.

If God gave us only one springtime or fall, one summer or winter, it would have been generous.
If God gave us only one day of laughter, it would have been generous.
If God gave us only one beautiful meal, beautifully served in a secure home, it would have been generous.
If God gave us only one friend to share the journey of time, it would have been generous.
If God gave us only one child, sound in mind and body, it would have been generous.
If God gave us only one storm that left us unharmed, it would have been generous.
If God gave us only one day for a good time with friends, it would have been generous.
If God gave us only one talent for creating beauty, it would have been generous.
If God let us laugh only once in the face of calamity, it would have been generous.
If God gave us only one moment’s pride in the success of those we love, it would have been generous.

But God has given us life and time, joy and sorrow,
sunshine and storms, laughter and tears,
gifts to share and days to remember.
God has given us friends and lovers, children and parents,
you and me, and Himself as well.

It is God who gives us life,
who tells us ever after to choose life,
God who is our resurrection and our hope,
who dwells within our hearts as the spirit of life,
the vanquisher of death,
and the comforter of the afflicted.

– Donna Gordon

Meditation: He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. – Ecclesiastes 3:11

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

A Bucket of Money

One fine evening a man walked into a fast-food chicken place and bought a nine-piece bucket of chicken. He took his chicken to the park for a romantic picnic under the moonlight with his lady.

Upon reaching into the bucket, however, he received a surprise. Instead of chicken, he discovered what was apparently the restaurant’s night deposit–nine thousand dollars. The young man brought the bucket back to the store and asked for his chicken in exchange for the money. The manager, in awe of the young man’s honesty, asked for his name and told him he wanted to call the newspaper and the local news station to do a story on him. He would become a local hero, an example of honesty and morality that would inspire others!

The hungry man shrugged it off. “My date’s waiting. I just want my chicken.”

The manager’s renewed amazement over the young man’s humility almost overwhelmed him. He begged to be allowed to tell the story on the news. At this, the honest man became angry with the manager and demanded his chicken.

“I don’t get it,” the manager responded. “You are an honest man in a dishonest world! This is a perfect opportunity to show the world that there are honest people still willing to take a stand for what is right. Please, give me your name and also the woman’s name. Is that your wife?”

“That’s the problem,” said the young man. “My wife is at home. The woman in the car is my girlfriend. Now let me have my chicken so I can get out of here.”

It’s easy to look good to people who don’t know you. Many of us do good deeds here and there, go to church, say the right words, and everyone thinks we’re something that we’re not. But God sees your heart. It really doesn’t matter how much you do or what other people think of you. What matters is what’s on the inside.

“The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”

— Author Unknown

Meditation: For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. – 1 Samuel 16:7

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Beyond Death

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was leaving the room after paying a visit and said, “Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side.”

Very quietly, the doctor said, “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?”

The doctor was holding the handle of the door, on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leapt on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, “Did you notice that dog? He had never been in this room before. He did not know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.

I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing: I know my Master is there, and that is enough. And when the door opens, I shall pass through with no fear, but with gladness.”

— Author Unknown

Meditation: For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! – Job 19:25-27

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Can You Relate?

I drive into work listening to gospel music or a pre-recorded sermon on the radio. I get out of the car and walk to the building entrance.

As I open the building door I leave just enough room for me to get in and I leave Jesus standing outside as the door closes behind me. He’s standing with His palms on the door glass and watches me as I get on the elevator.

His eyes are sad and He turns and goes to sit on the stone bench. There He’ll sit patiently and wait for me for the next nine hours.

First two hours of work – I fuss and complain about things not going right. Jesus, sitting with his chin in His hand looks upward toward the building wishing He could help me.

By lunchtime – I’m flustered, regretting I work in this place and sputtering bitterness all over folks.

Jesus comes around to the side of the building where my cubicle is located. He looks up from the ground trying to get my attention but I can’t hear him; my focus is on my problems.

Jesus goes back to the front of the building, sits down and continues to wait for me. He thinks to Himself as He looks up to the third floor, “She went in there defenceless. If only she had taken me in there with her. When will she learn?”

End of the day – I’m pooped, run down, no energy, irritable and frustrated. I leave the building and Jesus gets up happily to greet me but I’m in no mood for Him now. I’ve just been to hell and back and the last thing I want to do is be bothered with anyone.

God just actually showed me this is how I HAVE been acting. He showed me each act and worst of all, He let me feel a small portion of how grieved He was because of my actions and attitude. I left Jesus standing outside; almost let the door smack Him in His face.

From time to time, our jobs overwhelm us and we completely forget to “take Jesus with us”. We may not go around cursing anyone out or punching anyone in the face (hopefully not) but what are our actions saying about us and about who or whose we are?

We are the salt of the Earth and the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Matthew 5:13-15.

We should be bringing peace to our jobs and not be the cause of confusion. We should be the ones to bring our gifts and talents to the table to help in whatever area God has chosen for us to work in.

Take the name of Jesus with you,
Child of sorrow and of woe;
It will joy and comfort give you,
Take it then where’er you go.

Refrain
Precious name! Oh, how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of heav’n;
Precious name! Oh, how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of heav’n.

Take the name of Jesus ever,
As a shield from every snare.
If temptations round you gather,
Breathe that holy name in prayer.

Oh, the precious name of Jesus,
How it thrills our souls with joy;
All the favor of the Father
In this name we may enjoy.

At the name of Jesus bowing,
Falling prostrate at His feet,
Claim His vict’ry over evil
And the enemy defeat.

— Author Unknown

Meditation: Whatever you do, work at it with ALL your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.– Colossians 3:23-24

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

A Child’s Angel

Once upon a time, there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God:

They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?

Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you.

But tell me, here in Heaven, I don’t do anything else but sing and smile, that’s enough for me to be happy.

Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel’s love and be happy.

And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don’t know the language that men talk?

Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.

And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?

Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.

I’ve heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?

Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.

But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.

Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you.

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard, and the child in a hurry asked softly:

Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.

Your angel’s name is of no importance, you will call your angel: Mommy

— Author Unknown

Meditation: Let… your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice. – Proverbs 23:25

You will succeed in Jesus Name!