My First Prayer

I was six and in the first grade.  We had just moved from Louisiana to Missouri and few understand my southern drawl.  Of course being a "preacher's kid" I found myself in a new church with a new Sunday School teacher and being shy I wondered how all this was going to work out.  But there she was a small thin woman called Mrs.White who talked with a southern accent!  If I had been older I would have said "Praise God!"  but as a child all I knew was at least she would understand me.  Mrs. White not only taught our Sunday School class she led the Elementary Sunday School opening each Sunday.  One of her requirements was to learn the "Lord's Prayer".  Now this was WAY back when first graders were barely able to read anything other than Dick, Jane or Spot so learning a big long prayer meant listening and remembering. Each week we would repeat more and more of the prayer until we could finally say it along with the rest of the older kids in the Sunday morning opening. Now you are probably thinking kids are like sponges and can memorize easily.  After all there is little stuff to clutter their sweet minds. True, but Mrs.White made a big impression when she said this is something you will use for the rest of your life.  She didn't spend a lot of time telling us what it all meant.  It was Jesus' prayer and everyone just needed to know it.  THEN I discovered the same prayer the children were saying was said in church each Sunday by the adults.  I remember thinking Wow!, even they have to say it!

I am so thankful for Mrs. White; she loved me enough to teach me a life long prayer which has sustained me for all my life.  I wonder what I have taught that will last that long?  Maybe we all are supposed to keep teaching, praying and loving.  Sounds like someone I call Jesus.

Suffice it to say....

Suffice it to say we do not have visitors at our house very often. Seeing a truck parked at the end of the drive on Monday and coming home from a less than stellar day I was curious.  Barely able to get my car off the street I watched a young man hurry toward me.  "Ma'am, I think I have some really bad news."  My mind raced through thoughts of what in the world does this stranger know and what could possibly have happened?  The next thing he said was, " I think I hit your dog" He pointed to our house, "that's where you live isn't it?"  "Well yes, but our dog is never out without a leash"  Then as if time stood still I recalled another windy day like this one when the wind blew our front door open and Shadow slipped out only to meet a horrific end.  Quickly I reassured myself surely this would not happen again.  The young man spoke rapidly, "is your dog brown and white?"  A feeling of relief swept over me and then a second feeling of sadness that this was some one's pet.  The young man kept saying "I didn't know what to do, he just ran out so fast and I have my three year old daughter with me so I parked here so she wouldn't see. 

"Let's take a look, are you sure he is dead?" I asked.  We walked down the hill and I could see a half grown springer spaniel pup lying in the street.  The street is four lanes and always very busy with cars doing well over the 40mph speed limit.  I walked out into the street and asked the young man to watch for traffic.  I bent down and could see a sweet pup had made a serious mistake.  You see our property is surrounded by woods and no doubt the pup was out for a hunt on this windy day when he suddenly decided he better get home and ran into the street with no thought of the danger.  Now he laid still with just a red collar, no name, no way of knowing who might be his owners.

 What happened next was what causes me to share this. I reached down to pick the pup up, he was still warm.  I stroked him gently and then began to put my arms under him to lift him and place him  in the grass next to the sidewalk.  When I began to lift him I was not lifting him alone.  There was definitely something else helping me.  I felt a sense of peace  pulse through me and my mind filled with the thought this is a transition somewhere between life and death.  You might be thinking this was just an animal, but I believe the Creator God loves all living things.  And I am not here to say anything about where animals go when they die but I do believe I was there at the right time and had help beyond me.

I commend the young man for staying and caring.  He was devastated this happened and my husband and I tried to reassure him this was just an accident.  My husband moved the dog to the curb so anyone looking would see him.  He spoke quite awhile to the young man assuring him he did nothing wrong but thanking him for staying.   My husband lovingly said to me, "I think the pup was treated well in death" That made me feel good.  My day had oddly turned around, still sad about the pup but thankful I was the one (with a little help) who lifted him up and carried him to a place where he could lay in peace. 

Amazing how God can work you into His plan.

PS The pup was gone the next morning.  I grieve for the family but hope they somehow know "he was treated well in death".