Yes, yes I know, it has been over a year since I was here. It has been a very busy year, and while there
have been some things I’ve wanted to write about, it seems so many of you have
so many wonderful things to say and the last thing the blogosphere needed was
my words or thoughts. But something
happened today that was pretty amazing, and I just want to share it with you.
It was time to take our dog Sandi to the vet to have her
heartworm test. As I went into the
office I noticed a dark headed little boy sitting in one of the chairs holding
a towel. He looked to be between 8 and
10, and had a look of concern on his face.
The wet spot on the floor with a crumpled up paper towel gave evidence
of a pet who had had an accident. The
receptionist greeted me and I sat down to wait for Sandi to be taken back for the
test. The little dark-haired boy eyed me
with unsure curiosity. It wasn’t long
until they came to take Sandi back for the blood work.
I looked at the little boy and I asked him “how are you.” He hesitated and then spoke carefully through
braces incased teeth, “I’m fine.” I
asked him if he had a pet that the doctor was seeing, and with concern in his
voice he said yes. He told me his dog Savanna
had not been well for two days, that she was having trouble standing, he looked
worried. I assured him that Dr. Campbell
(our veterinarian) is an excellent doctor and I was sure she would do
everything she could for Savanna.
He proceeded to tell me about his other dogs, three more,
and how they used to have one more but she had been killed by a car. “Her mom was also hit by a car but she is fine
she only lost one of her legs” he said. “Oh,
and sometimes there are two dogs they bring to our school that have lost a leg.” I told him I was amazed at how animals and
even people seem to adapt and do very well when they’ve lost a limb or
something like that. “I lost a finger”
he said. “You did, how did that happen?”
He told me how his fingers had been “stuck together” when he was born and in
order to get them apart one had to be cut off, and he showed me his right hand,
with the two last fingers looking “odd”.
“I had to have therapy” he informed me.
“I am sure you did and I’ll bet you worked very hard, but that’s pretty
cool” I told him. His face showed his
appreciation.
About that time a bit younger, towheaded boy jumped out from
somewhere I hadn’t known he’d been. They
really didn’t look that much alike, especially considering the very dark hair
and the very blond hair, but I asked, “Is that your brother?” “Yes, we are both adopted” he confessed. “Well, that makes you even more special” I
said to him. He shook his head in the
affirmative with big sparkling eyes.
Then this precious boy share his story with me; “we both
have the same mom and different dads. My
mom and dad got divorced when I was little and it was really hard.” (As if being 8 to 10 years old makes you big) “Then my mom got a boyfriend and that was his
dad” he was pointing at his brother. They
took me to Pendleton.” He was meaning Pendleton
Place for Children, a place for abused children. “My mom’s boyfriend, his dad (pointing gain),
tried to kill me; he tried to suffocate me by putting a towel over my nose and mouth,
that’s why I had to go to Pendleton.” “But
then we got adopted together and I have a new family.”
It took a lot of self-control on my part to not get up, walk
across the room, and hug this boy, but I knew that was not what he wanted, or
expected. I looked him right in the eye
and said “God was protecting you, He was taking care of you, and He was making
sure you stayed alive. And with what
seemed like an expression of complete understanding, this dear little soul
shook his head yes, and said with all confidence “I know”.
It was about that time that the technician brought my dog
back and unbeknownst to me, someone walked his dog through the room and outside. I again assured this dark-haired little man
that I was certain Dr. Campbell would do everything she could to get his doggie
better. “That was her and she already
looks better” he said, now with a smile on his face. I took Sandi, I paid my bill, and I turned to
this little boy and told him how very grateful I was to have met him. What I didn’t tell him is how amazed I am at
his very attitude of life.
He has, in his very short time on this earth, been through
more than most of us who are much older.
But this young man had an outlook on life that I believe we could all
learn from. His dog was sick and there
was worry in his eyes, but he seems to trust that the doctor could do her job
well. His other dog had lost a leg, but
he thought it was pretty neat that she got around with the other three, not
turning away and being repulsed by a deformity.
He had been born with a problem, one that caused him to lose a finger
and have to “get therapy”, but he didn’t whine and complain and feel sorry for
himself, he just went right on. His mom’s
boyfriend tried to kill him; he was put in a home for abused children, but was
that his focus is that were his thoughts dwelt, no, he was happy to have his
new family and his brother with him.
Dark-haired boy chose to look at those things that are good,
he chose to do what Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything
worthy of praise, think about these things.”
He may not fully comprehend that’s what he was doing, but it certainly
is a lesson and a reminder for me.
Mark 10:14-16 “But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and
said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to
such belongs the kingdom of God. (15) Truly, I say to you, whoever does not
receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." (16) And he
took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”
