The Prodigal "Dog" or the One Lost "Dog"

My family welcomed a lost dog into our home a few months ago.

Libby, short for Liberty, is a "Beagle-Something". Her ears are as soft as silk with the speed of a race horse.

She was named by her founder, Liberty, to remind us she was free from bondage. Liberty had been a beaten dog and we have spent a good deal of time helping her recovery from her experiences.

Over the last few weeks we have seen her come out of her shell and also our HOUSE, often...

Her speed makes her impossible to catch and her brains make her difficult to trick. Food is usually the hook, but NOT today ;0(

Libby had jumped into the van so we took her along to drop off something at the babysitter. My daughter really wanted the music on so I left the keys in the car as I stepped up to the door.

My babysitter shoots her arm to point...I spin around...Libby jumps out the window! NO!!!!!!!!!

We tried to lure her into the car with cookies but no luck. Libby is part hound and she was free to track so many new smells!

We chased her in the van from street to street. I would hollar for her and she would run the other way.

I would get out of the car, she would get inches from me and then dart again.

I got back in the car several times and said, "Fine! If that dogs wants to be lost in a foreign place, so be it!" But I just couldn't drive the car out of the neighborhood.

What if she couldn't find her way back to the babysitter? No Food, No Shelter

But she wasn't my dog to begin with, maybe she wants to find her way home, maybe she doesn't like us?????

OK, long story short...after 30 minutes I wised up, had my daughter hollar for her and in the van she jumped.

She stunk, but a bath and a few moments in her cage to think about her actions. Everything was back to normal. But I couldn't help but think of theseto Bible stories:

The Prodigal Son and The Lost Sheep (click on the links for the stories)

I am so much like my dog! I turn away when something smells sweeter and I run from a familar voice to the unknown. How blessed am I to have a loving father who takes me back, no matter how bad I stink or how long I have been gone. Most of all, he never stops looking for me even when I stop looking for him.

Thank you Father!

(PS He never puts me in my cage to think about my actions...)