The neighbor’s dog was barking - AGAIN. Day and night, night and day, the dog barked and barked. He considered anything that came within fifty feet of his house an enemy. I think he even barked at his owners.
Honey Bunny, Marmalade, and Green Eyes, my three cats and I, would talk about it behind closed doors often. The look in their eyes and the quick movements of their tails told me exactly what they would do to that dog, even if it cost them one of their nine lives. Lucky for the dog, they were strict house cats and were never allowed outside.
One afternoon I asked the LORD in frustration, “Can’t you do something about that dog Jesus?” He is driving me crazy. Please do something with that wretched creature.”
A couple of weeks later I realized that I had not heard the dog barking for some time. It had been pretty quiet. My neighbor was outside working on his car, and after asking about the weather and other trivialities, I cautiously asked about the dog.
“So, I haven’t heard your dog barking lately. Is he okay?”
“Oh, he’s dead. He died a couple of weeks ago. He might have been poisoned.”
What??
DEAD!!!
The dog was DEAD!!!
I was shocked and speechless. It took me a second to compose myself.
“I am so sorry to hear it.” I said brokenly.
“Oh, it’s okay. We might get another one later.”
I kept saying, "I am so sorry."
I felt guilty of murder! What had I done?
Going back into my house I am talking to the LORD –
“You didn’t have to kill the dog, Jesus! Why did you kill that dog?”
“I can’t believe the dog is dead!” “I didn’t mean for you to kill the dog.”
After that whenever one of my cats would act up I did not need to use the water bottle as a punishment for bad behavior. I would just remind them about the neighbor’s dog, and tell them I would be praying for them.
You’ve never seen such well behaved cats.
And I am more careful when I ask for something.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! TRUST JESUS NOW
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