Several weekends ago our energetic black lab mix, Casey, disappeared. The woods around our house was a swamp due to the heavy rains, so I didn't dare venture out to look for him there, but we called for him until hoarse. No response. I put the kids in the van and looked high and low. No luck. We had to leave town without knowing his whereabouts. The kids cried for the hour trip there and back. That night we had a bad thunderstorm. If Casey was nearby I knew he'd return home because he's scared of storms. The next morning the dog house in the garage remained in empty. The kids were devastated. I called the dog warden, but we're in a rural area so he only works part time. Calls get routed through the sheriff's office. The sheriff's office took down the description of Casey and said they'd let me know if anybody called about him. Then they sent me through to the dog warden's office and I left him a voice message. A few days later I get a call from the dog warden. Someone saw a dog matching Casey's description running down Road 19 (about two miles from our house). I asked the dog warden how long ago. Expecting a few hours ago, I was annoyed to learn the dog warden got the call several days ago from an anonymous caller. The lead was cold. I didn't want to get the kids, so I went out alone to comb the area around road 19. No luck. I spent several days looking--calling the newspaper, checking the public bulletin, combing the internet for a found lost dog in the area. No leads. I figured he got hit by a car and probably went off to die in the weeds somewhere. I kept my eyes peeled as I drove along the highway, looking for impressions in the weeds, lumps in ditches, examining road kill . . . ew. Several days had passed. Then a week. Then longer. Reason told me we'd never see Casey's happy waggy tail again. My kids were still hopeful though. My son would break out in grief from time to time, saying things like, "Casey, why'd you have to leave!!??? " It was heartbreaking to hear. Naturally, it crossed my mind to encourage the kids to pray for the dog's return. But to be honest, I'm a big meanie and was secretly glad the dog was gone. I had my reasons, but even so, I couldn't stand the thought of Casey being injured and dying alone somewhere. Another reason I dodged praying about it with the kids is I was trying to protect them from being disappointed. They prayed for Grandma to get better---she died. They prayed for a beloved teacher to get better-she died too. The odds that Casey would return were slim to none. With all the other blows, I didn't want to set my kids up to pray for something seemingly so hopeless. I did the generic thing, praying with them that Casey was happy wherever he was, but I purposely avoided praying that he would come home. I began to prepare them for the fact their pet was gone for good, telling them things like the more time passed the less likely it was we would find him. I tried to be gentle, but honesty can feel kind of brutal. I told them we'd probably never see Casey again. They cried, but I thought it less cruel than feeding false hope. I bet you know where this story is heading . I was at the house today (we're getting very close to moving back in) talking with the guys who' are digging up the yard (due to ground tiles being crushed during the rebuild). The kids were with me and complaining it was hot and taking too long. We finally leave, and shortly thereafter I see a black dog trotting down the middle of the road . No. Way. I point him out to the kids, saying unthinkingly, "That looks like Casey." I stop the van in the middle of the road. "It's him. It's him." The kids say quietly as if in awe. I get out of the van and yell his name. He comes bounding up and it IS Casey. He's wet, muddy, and stinks like rotten fish, but his happy tail is wagging. "Where in the hell have you been, Casey?!" I want to know. He just wags his tail. He's filthy but looks and seems healthy enough. I don't want to lose him again, so I slide open the van door and urge him inside. The kids scream with joy. They're hugging him. Being a mom I tell them not to touch him until he gets a bath. Ahh, no use. They're just so happy to see him. My son cries, "God brought Casey back to us!" At this point I don't care about us getting dirty and stinky. "It's a miracle." My little guy says. "Every day we asked Jesus, Mary, God--all of them to help us find Casey. And they did." "It's a miracle!" My daughter repeats, hugging him to her chest. "Can I help give him a bath?" Anyway, I learned a lesson today. I like to think I'm a firm believer in the power of prayer, but now realize I'm not. There are things I don't pray about anymore because I've prayed about them so long without any noticeable results I think it's futile. I was reminded today to never give up on the power of prayer, the Goodness of God. Trust like a little child.
Rain, Ah...now I know why Lee's PUSH post resonated with you! God is good! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
What a lovely story Deanna. The prayers of children are very powerful before God. Dogs are strange, I wonder why he ran of like that? I sometimes see dogs in the street that are clearly lost and pray for them, they look so sad and confused. Wonderful.
Lost dogs are sad creatures. They suffer so much. What's the purpose of animals suffering--I don't really know. Despite my lack of trust, lack of faith, my kids said additional prayers "behind my back" asking the Lord for Casey's return. In my wrongness, it's good to know hubbie and I have instilled something good in them. My little darlings turned to Jesus in their time of need.
FAITH HOPE JOY! Rain, what a wonderful story. Oh that was just great, I was with the kids in the back seat clapping and cheering because their best friend had returned. I was 5 when Peter Pan with Mary Martin came out , I was the child clapping and cheering for Tinker Bell, knowing that she would live if I just clapped long enough, scolding my family for unbelief. See your children would have been there with me. Hurray for hope and prayer....and the heart and faith of a child. God had another idea about Casey, He heard the hearts of your children. What a miracle doggy you have there. And your sweet children...great faith...and probably a great need for the love of a canine. Don't underestimate that stinky smell...sometimes it smells like roses to the soul. Our priest's latest homily is about the kind of confidence in prayer that we need to have. I hope you can activate the link. I'm so inept at the computer I'm not sure it will work but I hope it does, it's worth the listen. This is Father Leatherby, he's 32 and he gets so excited about God, his church and the Blessed Virgin I swear some Sundays he's going to lift off. http://frleatherby.libsyn.com/june-5-2011-seventh-sunday-of-easter-ascension-of-the-lord
Please pray for Casey. He's been really sick lately. This is a high energy dog, a real sweetheart, who now lays around whimpering on and off throughout the day. Spent more money than we can afford to part with at the veterinarian, but there still isn't a definite diagnosis. Cancer hasn't been ruled out. I suspect that's what it is. Some hard decisions will be coming up. Nonetheless, Casey will forever be our miracle dog, the one who was lost and then found.
Prayers from here. Hang in there, sometimes with dogs time is a great healer and the issues resolve on their own. One of my dog's has been like that and found out it was a simple food allergy making him not feel well.
Praying to St Francis ,Deanna and for you all. The worse thing about dogs is that they seem often to live such a short life. But they are such a great gift.
Thank you for the prayers of support. Diagnosis...cancer in his joint fluids. It was spreading really fast, starting with his neck and you could see tumors popping out all along one side of his spine. It was in his front leg, too. For weeks, he could only lay on one side. I took him to the vet yesterday. Held him in my arms as they put him down. I took his body back home. My husband had dug the hole the night before, so I was able to bury him in the backyard before the kids got home from school. They had gotten their chance to say goodbye the night before and that morning, but I didn't tell them that he was going to die that day. My son was already a mess from knowing his dog was definitely not going to get better. I let them stay home from school today because they're still mourning the loss of Casey. He was ornery, sure, but a very sweet lil' guy. Loved dogs, cats and humans alike. The only creatures he didn't like were bugs--he enjoyed eating them though. He will be missed.
I'm so sorry! I just lost my horse and my Golden Retriever to old age in the past 3 months, and it is so hard!
ahhhhhhhh I still like to think we'll meet them in heaven. It would never be the same without them. Prayers for your family, Deanna...and yourself
So sorry Rain. A tough loss, to be sure. I will pray for you and the family. Dogs bring so much joy into our lives & it is very difficult to say goodbye.
