Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: DEVOTED (02/04/21)
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TITLE: Missy and The Stranger | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marilyn Meiners
02/08/21 -
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We all need that one friend whom we would consider to be our “devoted” friend. Some of us may be fortunate to have several such friends. I have had a few over the years, but none so loving or loyal as my furry friend Missy.
Missy was a grey Schnauzer. We brought her home when she was just a puppy. Miniature Schnauzers are well mannered and fun-loving dogs. They are loyal companions who are playful, curious and alert.
I want to share my story how our alert, loyal, Missy protected me on summer day.
I am a pastor’s wife and our home was next door to the church. We often had what I would call a “down-and-outer” person knock on our front door asking for a handout. Usually it was just for food, and they posed no threat. Because my motto was “do as Jesus would do” I always tried to meet their request, if at all possible. I gave out many a bag-lunch to hungry people over the twenty-one years we pastored this NYC church.
However, this story goes beyond just packing a bag-lunch for a hungry person.
My story begins on a Wednesday evening. Our three boys were outside playing and my husband was at the church for a meeting. As boys often do, they left the back garage door open so they had easy access into the house, mainly the kitchen. (Boys are always hungry!) Because our backyard was fenced in I was never concerned about the door being open. Who would enter through the back door anyway?
Missy and I were in our back den. I was watching TV Missy was on the floor sleeping. Suddenly, her ears perked up. She stood up, running into the kitchen. I thought one of the boys must have come inside for a snack, so I thought nothing of her barking. However she continued to bark, and bark. I yelled “Missy be quite”.
She continued to bark.
I yelled again.
She barked all the louder.
Finally I got up and went into the kitchen to see what was going on. Why was she barking so frantically?
As I entered the kitchen I was shocked to see a man standing there.
A man I did not know.
He asked, “Does your dog bite?”
Does Missy bite? She never has, but then one of her own has never been threatened before. Would she bite? I could only assume she might so I said, “Yes she will bite you. What do you want?”
With those words, thankfully he did not move. He asked to speak with my husband, the pastor. I told him he needed to leave my house and go over to the church where he would be able to speak to the pastor.
Missy stood guard between the man and myself, and continued a low growl.
Inwardly I was thinking, Missy keep guard. Please don’t let him do anything to hurt me. You may be small but be a warrior tonight.
The man contemplated what he wanted to do. I said, “You really do need to leave or I will command my dog to attack.”
Ha! Not sure Missy knew what that meant, but I was hoping in her devotion to me she might recognize my terror and actually go for the man. The man didn’t know if she would or not.
After what seemed like an eternity, the man turned and walked out the door. I immediately locked it, breathed a sigh of relief, and hugged Missy profusely as tears fell down my cheek.
When my husband came home from the office I asked him what the man wanted. His reply was, “What man? No one came to see me.”
Who was this person? What did he really want? Would he have hurt me? I will never know, but one thing I do know is this: Man’s best friend truly is his dog!
Living in NYC had it’s challenges. We never knew what kind of person we might encounter both in the church or at my door. I loved serving these people and helping in their need. I never really felt threatened, except this one time.
Perhaps in some way I even helped this man who came to my door.
I’m thankful for a feisty, loving, devoted little Schnauzer who’s barking was a warning to me and who’s growl was a warning to this stranger.
Based on a true story from Staten Island, NY
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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