The story of Spot

Once there was a 91 year old man living alone with his old dog and his caregivers. The old man decided he needed another dog because his old dog may soon die. His daughter who lived in the same town was totally against him having another dog, especially a puppy because the dog would be nothing but trouble for her and the care givers. So the old man talked the pastor who visited him regularly to take him to get a dog. About the time they arrived at the place to buy the dog, the daughter called the pastor and told him in no uncertain terms that her dad could not get another dog, but they were already there and so the dog was bought and brought home. There was an immediate bond between the old man and the dog, who was white with a black spot and so was named Spot by the old man.

A few months later after the dog had torn most everything up in the house as expected, the daughter came and got the dog while the old man was asleep and took it to a kennel. The old man became furious with his daughter and when he got the chance, drove his own car 20 minutes to the kennel and brought the dog back home. He had not driven for months and this was the last time he ever drove, but he had his dog, who was a faithful companion for him until he died a year and a half later.

One thousand miles away there was a young girl who loved dogs more than anything, but her dad refused her from getting one because her brother did not like dogs and a dog would be a lot of trouble for the family to care for. Finally he promised her that on her 8^th birthday, she could have a dog. But when her birthday came, her dad wasn’t ready to let her have a dog and talked her into a fish for a pet.  She loved the fish the best she could, BUT the fish was not a dog.

A few months later when the young girl was visiting her grandmother far away, something unexpected happened. Her grandmother’s father died and the plans the grand daughter had regarding her visit to her grandparents were altered. They must go 5 hours away to the funeral. When she arrived at her great grandfather’s house, the young girl was met by two dogs, one old and one young. The girl was happy to play with the dogs because she loved dogs so much. BUT strangely, her brother began to enjoy playing with the dogs too.

The grandmother of the young girl told happened to be the second daughter of the old man and lived far away. The grandmother (and daughter) told the children that there was a problem as to where the dogs would go since their owner had died. “They need good homes, somewhere they will be loved, ” said the grandmother and daughter of the old man who owned the dogs and had just died. The little girl responded, “my dad won’t let me have a dog unless it is a Jack Russell and one that my brother would like.” The grandmother smiled and said, “Spot is a Jack Russell and your brother is really playing well with him.” So Spot joined the little girl’s family, a generational blessing passed downed from her great grandfather’s love for the dog Spot.

In the story of Spot there are many actions taken and situations that could be deemed "bad" or "wrong" by participants in the story. The daughter who lived in the same town with the old man thought it was bad for her dad to have another dog in his situation. She thought the pastor was wrong in taking her dad to get the dog without her permission. The young girl thought her dad was wrong for not getting her a dog for her birthday as he had promised. The question is, “what makes someone’s action good or bad, right or wrong.”

This is just one simple story of two lives (an old man and his great granddaughter) that intersect around the death of the old man. God is about redemption. All actions taken cannot be labeled as good or bad without seeing the whole story as God sees it. All actions were woven together into the mosaic of the little girl and a dog called Spot. God’s grace abounded … 

think about it …