Howdy, folks! It is good to be with you one more time. To review, my name is Jack. I am a German Shepherd. I was invited to live in southern Wisconsin, and I adopted a boy. He comes with a mom and a dad, so they are mine, too. I grew up there, and I am the king.
I am three years old. Folks remark at how handsome I am. I have silver-sable coloring. But that is not my main pride in life. My main pride is my boy. He loves me and watches out for me. He seems to know when I am happy and when I am lonely. We are fast-friends even though I am the king.
Do you remember that my boy and his parents brought me to a farm? My boy took care to meet my needs there except he learned his lesson on how I don’t like being locked up at night in the strange castle they call the barn.
In my boy’s judgement that would not happen again. So I guess he learned his lesson. A smart boy he is.
Instead, he reserved a space for me where I longed to be free …in the out-of-doors. He set up some dry straw bales for my bed beneath a grand maple tree in the front yard of the farm house. He took care to see to it that I could look into the windows of the house. He wanted me to not feel lonesome. Seeing people gives me a sense of security. I was tethered to the tree through one night. My boy met my needs of food and water. We had our usual walk together.
Being so near the house, people visited me, and I let some pat my forehead. But some I did not let get near me.
Night fell and my boy came to see me before he retired. This night was way more tolerable than the one I spent earlier in which I had to work out an escape from the barn.
The next morning, something just wasn’t right. My boy visited me, and he seemed sad. He talked to me and lovingly patted my head. He said, “I hate to do this to you, Jack. I am so sorry.”
He turned away. He mounted the chariot I came in. (He calls it a car.) But he forgot me! The chariot moved forward. “Surely,” I thought, “he will come back for me. He can’t just leave me.”
But the chariot did not slow. It kept moving away. The loss in my heart as I saw my boy disappear confused me. Where did he go? Was he no longer interested in our friendship? Was he forgetting me? Had I lost his love? Would I see him again? If not, what would I do? Who would take his place? Who ever could?
I pondered these thoughts all day. People came to greet me, but none was my boy. My food and water were brought to me as I needed, but not by my boy.
The sun was warm though the temperatures were cool. I was comfortable enough, but strangely it brought no joy. Where was my boy?
One day and night went by. Then another and another.
In the late hours of the third day, something happened. In the yard came the chariot. And from the chariot, my boy jumped out and ran to me! The sparkle that had drained from my eyes returned. He came back to me. He untethered me, and we walked side by side to take in the depth of sweetness we felt at our reunion.
Being separated from the one who dearly loves you is hard. Sometimes we think it is necessary or perhaps preferred. I may be a dog, but I know who cares for me. Do you?
Your Creator and Redeemer loves you and longs for your friendship and reunion with you. He has met many of your needs already. Take time to walk and talk with Him. You can hear Him speak to you in the Holy Bible. You can speak to Him in prayer. You can be with him together as forever-friends.
Just like my boy, Jesus has gone to be with His Heavenly Father for a short time! He has promised to come back for those who are His children, those who have trusted Him for their eternal salvation. Waiting is a part of our present and future, but also like my boy, the waiting will end and He will come back to His own. The joy will be overwhelming and never-ending.
Hearty Lasagna Soup
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
3 1/2 cups beef broth (regular, 50% less sodium or certified
organic)
1 can (about 14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon dried ltalian seasoning, crushed
1/2 cup uncooked mafalda or corkscrew-shaped pasta
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Cook the beef, onion, garlic and parsley in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat for 10 minutes or until the beef is well browned, stirring often. Pour off any fat.
Stir the broth, tomatoes and Italian seasoning into the saucepan and heat to a boil.
Stir the pasta in the saucepan. Reduce to medium heat. Cook for 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Stir in the cheese. Serve with additional cheese, if desired.
Makes 4 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 25 minutes.
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