Last week we told the story of how Fluffy the hamster was rescued from a small child who was mean to him and hurt him. We bought him from the child’s family and brought him to our house. We were gentle and kind to him and gave him everything he needed.
One mild December evening after we had come home, we couldn’t find the hamster anywhere. Even though he had the freedom to run loose in part of the house, we could always find him. But this time we couldn’t, and we were afraid of what had happened to him.
The next afternoon Amy, my daughter, came running into the house sobbing and upset. There was also another unusual kind of cry. Then I saw Amy holding Fluffy in her hands. He was making the unusual sniffling crying sound. He was cold and wet and in rather sad shape. He apparently had been outside all night. He was too small to move easily in the wet snow, so he didn’t get too far from our front door. We could only assume he crept out unnoticed as we had come in the door the previous evening. He had also been in danger of predators finding him, like the many stalking cats around our house.
Poor little Fluffy was shivering and crying and making rasping sounds. I immediately wrapped him in a warm blanket and held him close to warm him up. He cried all the while and we cried too. After a while we fed him a piece of food which seemed to stop his pain and crying, and then he ate hungrily.
We had prayed to the Lord that Fluffy would be found, and we were thankful and relieved when he was. We saw the Lord’s kindness to one of His little creatures and how He hears and answers the prayers of believers. “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:88Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)).
If Fluffy had been out in the snow and cold much longer, he probably would have died. Amy found Fluffy outside because of Misty, our cat. This may seem unusual, but Misty and Fluffy are friends. Misty was outside and Amy noticed her sitting beside something in the snow. It was Fluffy! Misty was looking at Fluffy and seemed to be saying, “What are you doing here, outside, crying like that?” Misty was used to Fluffy running around inside.
Poor Fluffy. Without realizing it, he had slipped out the door into a dangerous and unprotected place. But now he was found, and we lovingly nursed the little hamster back to health. The Lord Jesus, who is the great and good Shepherd, will do the same for you. The Bible says we are lost sheep, lost in our sins: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)). “The [Lord Jesus] is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)).
I’m glad to tell you that this story of Fluffy has a happy ending. But will you have a happy ending? There is joy and safety in the arms of the good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, if you will just come to Him and let Him wash your sins away. He promises you everlasting life with Himself in heaven.
ML-06/02/1996