I think rescue dogs are a case study in faith. Like us, they have no way of knowing what the future holds. Unlike us, they have limited agency, living at the mercy of their environment and the people who enter their lives. I’ve seen dogs enter the rescue shelter, arriving from horrible situations. But despite the conditions these dogs came out of, they have unwavering, unbreakable spirits.
Their faith shines through, even in the darkest times. With care and kindness, I’ve seen their personalities emerge, their playfulness return and their social energy resurface. Even dogs that people have treated with cruelty can find it in themselves to respond to humans with kindness, with affection.
Of all the models I’ve seen of faith, what it means to believe and trust in God, I want my faith to grow in the helpful, unconditional faith of the rescue dog. I want to put my trust in a God who plans a home for all of us, who cares for us, even when we’ve been broken.
This message is excerpted from “The way of the rescue dog” by Abigail Accettura in the November/December 2022 Gather magazine.
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