Dear Children,
My letter to you this time will be partly happy and partly sad. I’ll tell you the sad part first, as I always like to finish my letters on the happy side.
You have read many happy stories about our dog Chelsea, a beautiful Dalmatian, and also about some of our other pets. But Chelsea was getting pretty old, and she had a big problem with her legs. The animal doctor sadly told us that she would not be able to walk anymore.
Yes, we enjoyed having Chelsea as our devoted, loyal companion for twelve years. Gramma and I were very sorry and sad to part with her. We buried her over by the tall pine trees. We both thanked God for giving us Chelsea for those happy years. As Gramma and I buried Chelsea, a number of Bible verses came to mind. One was Psalm 90:1212So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. (Psalm 90:12), which says, “Teach us to number our days.” Now notice that the verse says “days” and not “years.”
“Why is that, Grampa?”
That’s a good question. Let’s look for the answer in Proverbs 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1): “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” And so, children, we live one day at a time! Chelsea had reached the end of her days, but we have many happy memories of her and lots of pictures.
“Will you get another dog, Grampa?”
Well, Gramma and I prayed to God about this very question. We are getting older, and we know that a puppy takes a lot of work and training. We still weren’t sure, but then one morning our phone rang.
When I answered the phone, the voice of a man whom we did not know said, “I hear you are looking for a Dalmatian dog. I have one here. He is five months old and needs a home. Will you take him?”
Wow! Gramma and I did not know what to say. So I said, “We will think about it.”
“Grampa, didn’t you and Gramma want the dog?”
Yes, Gramma and I wanted the dog, but at our age we know that a puppy means lots of work, so it was a big decision. So Gramma and I asked God for wisdom about what to do. We hope and trust that anyone who reads this story always takes time to ask for God’s help on any decision, big or little, in life.
A few days later the man called back about the dog, and we told him, “Yes”; we would take the dog. The man lived fifty miles away. When we drove to the house to pick up the dog, his three children were very sad, yet happy to see this last puppy of the litter going to a home where they knew he would be happy and well cared for.
So now we have another Dalmatian, and we’ve named him Wesley. As of today, he is seven months old. He has learned to sit up, sit down, beg, shake a paw, and catch food, and he knows his name. But he also gets into a lot of things that he is not supposed to. Wesley and our two cats, Mittens and Spunky, are great friends already. In fact, Wesley will go looking for Spunky if the cat is not at the back door in the morning. You see, Mittens and Spunky are barn cats, but they come to the house for breakfast.
Yes, this letter does have a happy ending. And for each person who reads this story, we hope and pray that when your life is finished, it will have a happy ending with the Lord Jesus in heaven. Psalm 144:1515Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord. (Psalm 144:15) says, “Happy is that people ... yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord.”
Lots of love,
Grampa and Gramma
Grampa’s Dalmatian Wesley