Dear Children,
Would you like to hear about our new dog? Her name is Chelsea, and she is a very smart Dalmatian. We got her a few months ago from a couple who were moving and could not take the dog with them. They knew our last dog, Scarlett, had died of old age. (She was fourteen.) And so they thought we might be willing to take Chelsea since she was 1½ years old and past the puppy stage. We enjoy having a dog, so she is now part of our family.
Chelsea loves to chase sunbeams, and she can do a lot of tricks now. She has learned how to open the door with her nose. When I turn the doorknob, she just gives that door a shove with her big black nose and gallops right into the house! I thought this was right smart on her part, but I found out much differently a few days later.
It had rained during the night, but this did not stop Chelsea and me from going on our usual walk. I like to feed the birds and the wild geese and ducks when we walk down to the pond.
Chelsea was running around, having a good time, and she sure wasn’t careful where she was going. I wasn’t watching her either, because I was interested in the birds that were singing.
We eventually arrived at the back door. As I turned the doorknob, Chelsea gave the door a shove with her nose and ran right into the house and down the hallway to find Gramma!
Boy, I sure wasn’t ready for what happened next!
I expect you’re asking, “What happened, Grampa, what happened?”
It was a really loud yell from Gramma! “Get that dog out of this house! She’s all dirty! She has to be cleaned off!”
Oh, boy, even Chelsea made a beeline for the back door!
So, Chelsea and I went to the back of the barn. I got a pan of water and washed her all off. She looked brand new! I dried her with a towel, and then when we got near the door I told her, “You sit here ... I’ll see if it’s okay to go in.”
I opened the door a crack and asked, “Is it okay to come in?”
“Yes,” answered Gramma, “but only if that dog is clean.”
I looked at Chelsea and said, “Okay, come on in; you’re clean.” Boy, was Chelsea ever happy to see Gramma!
You know, children, this reminds me of heaven. It is such a beautiful, clean place, and only those who have their sins washed away in the precious blood of Christ will ever enter in. Sin is like dirt. It sticks to us like glue. Stealing, swearing, lying, cheating and all the rest of our sins must be removed before we can enter into heaven.
It was easy to wash Chelsea’s back and legs, but I had to use a brush to wash her feet. She didn’t like being washed at all, but it had to be done before we were allowed back into the house. And when I was finished, she gave me a big lick, right up the side of my face, as if in dog language to say, “Thanks very much!”
Our Bible verse today is 1 John 1:7: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” That’s such a good verse to memorize. It tells us how we can have all our dirty sins washed away so we will be welcome in heaven, just like Chelsea had to have all the dirt washed off before she could go in the house. Here is a little song we sing about it in our Sunday school. Maybe you sing it too.
What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
So that not one spot remains?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh, precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Lots of love,
Grampa