Its Not How You Begin

My husband has always wanted a basset hound. They're just so comical that they instantly bring a smile to anyone's face. You can't help but love them. A few years ago we looked into buying one but the only breeder we could find somewhat remotely close to us was in Newfoundland, Canada and he wouldn't sell to us because we didn't have a fenced in yard. Besides that he wanted $1100. for his puppies! Good grief! That was out of our ball park for sure. So you can imagine how excited I was when we saw a local ad for a 5 month old basset hound puppy for only $100. I jumped!

Since I am still recovering from surgery and can't drive yet, my sons took me to see the pup. I wanted it to be a surprise for Brad. When we arrived at the house a rough young man called the pup out to see us. It broke my heart to see this little puppy doing the army crawl around this man. It was terrified. It shook all over. Its ribs were clearly visible and its skin didn't move over them. Its face was just skin stretched over bones. Its nails were overgrown and two were split. Needless to say I was fighting hard not to say anything of my opinion of anyone who could treat an animal this way. 

Because of the condition of the dog I offered the man $50. and he accepted it. We scooped up the pup and carried him to the car. He didn't cry or shake the whole way home, I think he knew he would be safe with us. Brad was so excited to finally see the pup but like us, he was upset with the condition the poor thing was in. But we all knew that with good food and lots and lots of love this little puppy would flourish because its not how you begin life that matters but what you do along the way that counts.

We bathed the pup and fed him high calorie puppy food and all of us have spent time holding him and loving him and kissing him. He doesn't shake any more and his coat is a beautiful, loose, shiny coat as it should be. He was recently checked out by a vet and the vet said he is in good shape and a fine pup. Duke Jedidiah might have started his life in a bad situation but for the next 12-15 yrs, Lord willing, he will have a life that all dogs should have. 

Many times people will use the excuse of their upbringing, their past, to explain why they have a bad attitude or they can't trust people. Sometimes they won't try to better their lot in life because they feel they don't deserve any better because they've never had it in the past. We can't let our past or even the family we were born into dictate our future. We can, with God's help break the cycle of abuse, or whatever else, we have grown up with. 

God says in His Word that when we turn our lives over to Him that we are new creatures and  'old things are passed away and behold all things become new'. 2 Corinthians 5:17 The difference between the pup that I bought for $50 and the pup that we have now is like night and day.We even changed his name. He had been Trigger but he now happily comes to Duke. When we come to know Christ as our personal Saviour He changes our name too. We were once called 'lost' but now we are 'found'; a child of the King. We have been adopted into the family of God and are joint heirs with Christ. Galatians 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

You might have started off life in a pretty horrible situation but that is not what is important now. What are you going to do with your present? What you decide to do today will dictate your future. If you decide to turn your life over to Christ, you can have that new life that I've spoken of too. God loves you and He cares about you. Just like we redeemed this poor little pup from a life of neglect and sorrow, God will redeem you from a life of sin and heartache if you will allow Him to. Let me encourage you to trust Him today. Your life will never be the same.