God’s Grace on Christmas This might not be considered a traditional Christmas Story, but my heart needs to put this story down in words to at least remind myself in years to come. Christmas day 2005, my wife Robin awakens with a phone call from her mother, “Can you come over and help me? Santa left a gift on my front porch.” Seems that when Robin’s dad went to get the mornings newspaper he noticed a small, cold, scared puppy huddled behind some storage boxes in the far corner of the porch. We arrived quickly and with no fear Robin made friends with the pup, quickly wrapped it in an old towel and was talking to it sweetly. In short time the pup had its face cleaned, and washed while being calmed in the loving arms of Robin. There was no doubt that this puppy was coming home to our house, to be loved and cared for during the rest of its days. Robin quickly decided that this pup should have a special Christmas name since this was all happening on Christmas day, and thus she was called Noel. Once back at our home, arrangements were quickly made for the starving pup and Noel soon had a bed with plenty of food and water available. Noel was very timid, but soon had some to eat and drink and then fell into a much needed comfortable slumber. Now, this story doesn’t end here, we have other pets in our house – in part because Robin has never come across an animal that she couldn’t love unconditionally. They are all special, but for this story “Grace” our 14-year-old Great Dane will help finish this story. With Grace’s age we knew that she would not be with us much longer, her once majestic black coat was nearly all gray in some areas; and her tired worn out body could not move as fast as it once could. She still loved to walk, though not as far as she once could, but anyone that we passed by would still make comments on how pretty and big she was, and she always had enough “spirit” in her to perk up her ears and “do that” little prance that Great Danes are known for when someone was watching. This Christmas day was unusually warm so it was a great day for a walk. So I prepared for the short stroll around the block for Grace. Grace had anticipated this event and waited patiently by the fence gate. She sprang out the best she could and ran around the driveway until I could catch up with her to put her leash on and off we went. It was a gorgeous; children were out playing with their new toys and the warm weather made it an enjoyable walk. But, about three quarters of the way around the block, Grace froze and started gasping for breath. I had seen this once before but I could tell this was much more serious. She laid down with her head in my lap and I stroked her fur and talked to my precious Grace to comfort her. It seemed like forever; but, somehow not quite long enough. I finally got a neighborhood boy who was walking by to run to my house to get Robin and some help. Robin soon arrived with her parents and we got Grace loaded in the back of a pick up. We sadly knew that this was the end and we just wanted to make Grace as comfortable as we could. When we arrived at the 24-hour Vet. Clinic, they were waiting for us and we quickly got Grace inside. The Vet. came out and told us what we already knew, that Grace had a heart attack and she didn’t expect her to survive. So we made arrangements and said our good byes, with hugs and kisses and then she was gone. She suffered no more. I would have wanted her to “have gone” more quickly in my arms as I tried to give her comfort on our walk, but this way our boys and Robin’s parents even got to say their good byes. My heart ached, but yet we knew that Grace died happy while walking and that we were with her all the time. Though saddened by some of the day’s events, we did take notice and worked to piece together what we thought were teachings from God for this Christmas day. Grace – not originally named for this, but grace means “goodness or clemency, and even is a name for some royalty” - a very fitting name for our majestic Great Dane. But for Christians it is also the “unmerited love and favor of God in Christ; hence free gift”. Noel means the beginning, the birth of Christ. What a special name for our new puppy. This story has so many parallels and symbols of Christmas for us, and I hope that it might touch your heart, to warm it with love and perhaps to help share a better understanding of what God did for all of us. For dog lover’s, many can appreciate the unconditional love that their dog gives them when they come home! God has even more of this kind of love for you! In coming home (heaven) “grace” is available if you accept Christ. And on this Christmas day, the celebration of “The First Noel” we understand that it is a day of a new beginning, the birth of Christ! Though we will always miss our Grace, we will always have her with us in our hearts. And now we have a new addition to the family that will always be special, our first Noel; it will be the beginning of a new chapter with love to remember and even more love to give. So this Christmas for the Wyatt’s was both happy and sad, could this somehow reflect in some small part how God must have felt when he gave us Jesus, knowing what he would have to suffer to give us grace in the end? Thank you for letting me share our Christmas story. May God bless and “grace” each and every one of you.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 14:05:06 +0000
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