The New Dog, Lucy

In July this past summer, our beloved family pet, Rex, went to the great race track in the sky. I know, that's really corney, but he was a rescued greyhound and he loved to run. He was 13 years old when he passed away. He was the best pet we have ever had. In the end, he developed kidney disease and could not overcome it. It broke our hearts to say goodbye. During the last few months of Rex's life, each of boys found stray dogs and brought home and after spending months trying to find their rightful owners with no success, the week Rex died, the other 2 dogs also found new homes.

For the first time in over 20 years, we were dogless. About a month or so ago, both Randy and Caleb started talking about getting another dog. I put my foot down...NO! We are on the go too much to deal with a new dog and finding sitters or boarding is too stressful. We'll adjust to not having Rex and life will be easier!

About 3 weeks, I received a text from a girlfriend asking me to call her ASAP! She was at the animal shelter and found a little yorkie that I needed to meet. Reluctantly, I drove over to meet the little girl. She was shy, would not have anything to do with me, she was filthy, matted, smelt horrible, her hair was wirey. There was nothing cute about her at all. I have always wanted a little yorkie but I've always wanted a cute one. After spending an hour trying to get her to come to me or let me hold her, I gave up and was really relieved she didn't like me. We just didn't need another dog.

The shelter employees said the mother yorkie and 4 sisters were dropped off after being neglected and abused. They were all flee infested and their appearance was in sad condition. Being yorkies, they still would probably go quickly once word was out about them. I wished them well and hoped they'd find good homes quickly.

All night I thought about the shy little girl the shelter called Ethel. Ethel? Really? What a poor choice of names as well! The next day as I cleaned house and prepared food for a tailgate party that was to be at our house for all my high school girls, I could not stop thinking about Ethel - about how sad her story was and if she had just been cute, I would adopt her. When I thought those last words, immediately this thought came to me "What if God had those thoughts about me?"

God: "I'd take her if she was just cute. If she didn't have flees and was matte free, and smelled good, she'd be just right for Me. Poor thing. It really is sad that she's been abused and tossed aside. She's too shy and fearful and well, just not cute."

I was slicing tomatos, I had one hour until my girls arrived. My thoughts would not go away. I kept hearing God's words over and over in my head. I thanked Him for His unconditional love and that He accepted me flees and mattes and all. He cleaned me up, He didn't wait for me to get cleaned up on my own so He could love me. He took me and loved me just the way I was - ugly and not cute at all. It's not easy for me to love "ugly". If I was to take this little one, He'd have to give me unconditional love for her and acceptance of her bad smell and ugly looks. I was not trying to make this a spiritual event, I just didn't want another dog.

Half way through the tomato, I put the knife down, called up to Caleb and told him I'd be back in a minute. I called the shelter to see if they still had Ethel and drove to adopt the little neglected, abused, ugly girl.

Randy and Caleb were VERY surprised when I returned 45 minutes later with her. Her name has been changed to Lucy. She has been groomed and is absolutely adorable. So sweet, so well behaved and so loving. I'm so glad God used her to remind me of how He sees and accepts me. She has now been with us for 3 weeks. We have discovered an issue we are trying to overcome so we can keep her....

she apparantly was abused by men...she will not have anything to do with Randy or Caleb. She is afraid of them and grawls and shakes when they come near her. But she's sweet and cute!!