About this time of year in 2023, Barbara and my family surprised me with a 10 week old yellow lab. Her name is Penny. She began her training to be my service dog unofficially pretty quickly after I got her. Her official training began in January 2024. She graduated in June. What’s pretty cool about the whole thing, is how they surprised me. Because I had no idea they were thinking about this behind the scenes. It was truly shocking when it took place.
Anna had been looking at the possibility of buying a newer vehicle. She asked her mother and me if we could go look at one on Sunday evening, August 27. When we get there, I saw a vehicle with Roper on the license plate. I had told her to look at Roper because they offer warranties on some of their used vehicles. So my assumption was that she was doing so. As we get out and look at the vehicle, I noticed behind it a fenced in area with five lab puppies in it. And I made a comment about how cute they were. Anna then tells me, “Dad, I think he has five for sale.“ I thought that she meant he had five different vehicles to choose from. And then I realized what she was talking about. And I was speechless. I really didn’t know what to say. I was so humbled by what they were doing. Here is what really was cool about the whole thing. They had a certain puppy picked out for me. And when they released all five of them from the fence, they ran out excited about new people. One of them can you directly to me. Multiple times. She kept trying to get onto my lap. It was very clear that she was picking me. She had chosen me. So there really was no decision to make. Because Penny had done that for us. I wish you could’ve seen the moment. Because it was obvious. Isn’t that awesome!
And that’s what’s “cool” about our God as well. God has chosen us. He chose to create us. He chose to love us. He chose to give us hope. And he chose us to serve him. He did so because he loves us. And he loves us so much that he sent his son to die for us. Holy cow! Think about that for a minute. Jesus came to earth to die for us. He could’ve chosen to not do this. He could’ve said no. But he went through with it. And the death that he suffered was terrible. I could not imagine the pain he endured. I don’t want to imagine it. But what I can imagine, and what I can believe, and what I can trust, is that God chose us. And Jesus chose to die for us. So today, let’s do what we can to honor being chosen. Let’s do what we can to teach others about Jesus. And let them know that he chose them as well. He chose to die for them too.
