Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Pets (09/13/04)
TITLE: How Could God Allow THAT To Happen?!!? By Jessica Gingerich 09/18/04 |
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The seat-belt buckles clicked. Everyone settled back and they were off. Today they were going to receive the special surprise their parents had promised.
When they arrived at the small, brown house, it was with full-blast excitement that the three children tumbled out and greeted the beautiful golden retriever puppy.
The eleven-week-old puppy was just as excited as the kids that were soon to become his new owners. The ride home passed by much more quickly than the ride from home.
Rochester (or Rocky, the new nick-name he soon received) adjusted nicely to his new home. The big open yard and plenty of companions suited him much better than his first home, in the city.
The family had just suffered through the loss of the family dog several months previous. Although Rocky was different in many ways, he was indeed the “perfect dog.”
The days passed and everyone grew closer to Rocky. They taught him tricks and he learned to obey. Everyone enjoyed the frisky little dog, in spite of some of the troubles he caused. No one knew that their lives would be changed so soon.
One Wednesday evening, the family was leaving to visit an elderly couple. Before anyone could stop him, Rocky ran in front of the car. It drove over his back legs, which were clearly broke. Everyone felt grief, but the damage the accident had done could never be erased. The vet gave them no hope. The family was moved beyond compassion for their poor, suffering dog. Their only choice was to end his pain and put Rocky to sleep.
I accepted the news of his death and went through the burial with a numbness. Why had God taken our perfect dog, I asked myself over and over. He could have stopped the accident from occurring. But He didn’t.
He allowed the accident to happen, but with it He brought good. I began to realize that God hadn’t taken my dog. Even though He didn’t stop Rocky’s death, I couldn’t fairly place the blame on God.
Death is a part of life and we’ll each experience it sooner or later.
God also brought to my attention that I was more moved to compassion over my dog dying that over the fact that someone is walking into Hell every minute. While I sat there wondering why God didn’t allow Rocky to live, who knows how many people died and will spend eternity in Hell.
Rocky’s death was a turning point in my life. I became more determined to win people to the Lord. I know that God will help me.
Although things happen in our lives that we don’t understand, I believe that God is there and will always allow something good to come of it.