This, on a weekend where I had to work, return and pick-up Christmas gifts at the store, take my sister back and forth to my mom’s three times, celebrate her birthday on Saturday and Sunday, and prepare 45 Christmas cards for mailing. 
We had to adjust our weekend plans to care for a little lost dog; a member of someone’s family. This allowed us to pause and focus on something besides a full schedule. Something beyond ourselves.
We had to determine, as a family, how to best feed and provide comfort to the little guy. How to get him back home, if that was possible.
We reached out to a dog-lover friend with connections to a rescue organization. My husband rode his bicycle through the neighborhood looking for the dog’s owners.
No luck.
We reported finding the dog to local police and animal control. Talking to neighbors, my husband learned about a Facebook page for lost & found pets (shout-out to For the Love of Louie), which ultimately led to finding the dog’s owners, who live just a few doors down. We are neighbors.
In all of this activity, we were reminded that doing good feels good. And being kind and caring to others, even lost pets, is a way of caring for ourselves. And often pushes us beyond the perceived limits of responsibility and duty.
Taking care of this lost dog softened our hearts and brought us joy during a hard season, even if for just a little while. The little while is now a memory we can go back to time and time again, like a treasured gift. This lost dog provided an opportunity for us to show love and kindness to our neighbors.
God had better plans for our weekend.
A little dog found us and we called him Lucky.
I’m also posting in the Five Minute Fridays link up today.
Full disclosure; the featured image is not our found dog, but very close. Photo by Sander Weeteling on Unsplash
Just the story my heart needed today! A great reminder that taking our focus from ourselves to others often leads to something better! Thank you for sharing! Your #fmf neighbor, Cindy
I’m so glad you were encouraged. Thanks for stopping by, Cindy.
What a sweet story! The dog and his family were blessed so tangibly!
He’s a sweet little dog. God uses everything! Thanks, Stephanie.
What a lovely story!
A lot of dogs are umped where I live. None are turned away.
They come to us from time to time,
often on the coldest days,
and it seems their only crime
is being thrown away.
The mesa’s a convenient place
to dump a dog not wanted,
and some are lost without a trace,
and the night is haunted
by their sad and lonely bark,
by their pain-wracked howl
in the sightless freezing dark,
heard only by an owl.
But those I find I will take in,
and here a new life can begin
That’s so true. Like when we knock on Jesus’ door, and He takes us in. That’s when our life begins. Thanks, Andrew. I hope you are smiling today.
Your story made me smile, Suzette.
Glad to hear it. Keep it up, Andrew.
Suzette, I had to pop over here after you left a comment on my blog, because I have not met you before! I’m a sucker for dogs so as soon as I saw this post, I had to read it! Such a sweet story, and you’re right doing good, feels good! So happy lucky found you, but who is really luckier?
Thanks, Donna. I honestly believe we are the lucky ones. God doesn’t waste anything. Thanks for visiting. Don’t be a stranger.