The Luck of Lucy | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: The Luck of Lucy | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sharon Eastman
09/17/14
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A brilliant morning sun rose through an apricot sky illuminating the August dew on all the grass and greenery. I casually stepped onto our new deck with hands encircling a steaming cup of coffee and perused the beauty of a new day. I thought I was dreaming when I suddenly heard whimperings and whinings under the deck. Startled, I saw two rather small mixed beagle hound dogs scrambling down the street. As my husband, Jim, had left his unfinished trademark, there was no rail to masque the deck’s infrastructure, a place for runaway doggies to hide.

After the pair left, I still heard whimperings and whinings. I crept down the deck’s stairway and beheld a black ball of fur. I cupped this little mound which nestled into my warm hands like a bird to its nest. It looked at me with awesome brown eyes, and we made a love connection, a love at first sight.

We, as a family, had been weighing the benefits of getting a new puppy. Our last dog, a female, Maltese, Lindsey, broke our hearts when she died of old age the previous year. My husband had said, “No more dogs, no way!” But, I yearned for a puppy to hold, love, and care for. I asked my church friend in what manner did she obtain her dogs, and she said that somehow they just came to her.

With that knowledge I felt blessed by God’s grace in knowing that it was his gift to us. I just had to convince Jim.

I brought the little puppy indoors realizing it was a she when she proceeded to pee on the carpet. Jim and my son, Mike, were taken aback by this animated little ball of fur. She looked knowingly into their eyes that this would be her new home.

Jim and Mike were delighted by her prodding, yet sorrowful eyes, her soft coat of black fur, her happy wagging tail, and the unique brown spots above her eyes. We, all, were in love, captivated.

Somehow we discovered the owner just three houses down the block from us. We asked if we could have this adorable puppy, and he gladly said, “Yes!” He was going to get rid of them all.

By God’s love and grace and our love, we rescued this cuddly puppy from a probable doomed destiny.

It took a long time to train her, Lucy, but she finally settled down. She became the most adored family pet we’ve ever owned. Even though Lucy is all dog, she thinks she is human, and sometimes we think she is too.

God is love. That’s the simple truth. We’ve heard it in Sunday school, church, and everywhere. And, God gives grace, unmerited favor. Like the fortunate puppy, who found our door, the God, who created us with free will gives us grace. This gives us forgiveness of sins and grants us an abundant and an eternal life. He sent his one and only son, Jesus, to die for our sins. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John 3:16 NRSV

As in my case, He took a lonely, wandering, aging hippie, immersed in sin, and forgave her. I was wandering in worldly music and culture, drinking, partying, involved in the free love movement and Eastern religions. But, through love and grace, He saved me from all this. When I finally realized that Jesus died especially for me, Love swelled my heart. I was blind, but now I see. My finite love for the infinite love of God is truly the foundation of my existence.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the abundant love and grace you bestow upon everyone. Help those who choose to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior to remain strong and grow in faith. Help us to proclaim the Good News to others. Amen

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