April 6th, 2011 | Posted in Uncategorized
By: S. Jami Dittmeier
Dear Jesus, We’d like a Dog
December 3, 2009
Dear Jesus,
As You already know, we would very much like to have another dog, but only if this is in accord with Your Will. Should You desire to bless us with a new friend we would like it to meet the following criteria:
Free
Female
Less than 5 years old
Spaniel
House broken
Crate trained
Good with people and other animals
Black & White
Good Shoppe dog
So these are our desires. We turn this over to You as You know what is best for us.
For the last 38 years my husband, David, and I have raised and cohabitated with dogs. We’ve owned and loved seven dogs in all. Our last friends, Chance (a Belgian Shepherd) and Minnie Pearl (a Springer Spaniel) went over the Rainbow Bridge in July of 2009. We were at an even greater loss as it was the first time we had been without a furry friend in these 38 years. Since we never had children, our dogs have always meant a lot to us. Needless to say we were very sad and after month without Chance and Minnie Pearl we began searching for a new friend to rescue. We searched for four months with no success… and then in early December we decided to write a letter to Jesus. He says “Ask and it will be given unto you…” So we asked. We asked exactly and specifically for our hearts desire, wholeheartedly believing that He could answer our prayer, wholeheartedly seeking His will; wholeheartedly knowing if it were in His will, He would answer us.
Three weeks later we heard from our vet’s office. The assistant indicated there was a woman in a neighboring town that had a serious health issue and needed to locate homes for a couple of her dogs. She had a 4 year old and a 4 month old and both were female. We called the woman immediately! We had learned from the previous 4 months of searching that female dogs get placed very quickly. By the time the woman returned our call she had already decided to keep one of the dogs. Initially, we had thought we wanted the older dog, but just before the woman called we decided it would be refreshing for us to train a puppy. As it turned out it was the puppy she wanted to place. Coincidence or God-incidence?
The day came for us to meet the puppy for the first time. We were very excited but also a little apprehensive because we had suffered some disappointments during our several months of searching. When we arrived at Melissa’s home she greeted us warmly. Melissa is a breeder so we were able to meet the puppy’s parents, a sibling and her grandmother before meeting her. Her family was both beautiful and talented. We were even more excited to meet the puppy! Melissa called “Pup, Pup, Pup!” and in raced this tiny black streak. My eyes focused on her. As I bent down commenting on how small this puppy was she leapt into my arms and began to nuzzle my neck. My husband commented: “Well, I believe we’ve found the dog we want!”
We asked Melissa what the next step would be. She replied: “If you want her she’s yours!” We happily accepted her offer. That was over a year and three obedience courses ago. We named the puppy Hadassah (Hebrew for Joy) Selah (Hebrew for Praise God) and we have been praising God for the incredible joy He bestowed on us ever since that day! Not only did He answer our request, but He answered each of the criteria we had asked right down to the color of her fur. On first glance Dassah appears to be a black Cocker Spaniel, but when we mentioned to Melissa we had been searching for a black and white dog, she showed us that Dassah had white on her chin, throat and chest! Coincidence? Or God-incidence? We know the answer— it was our answered prayer.
We own a Christian book and gift store in our town and Dassah comes to the store with us every day. Many of our customers come by just to visit with her. She entertains everyone with her tricks and general sweet nature. In the spring of 2011 we plan to begin agility training with Dassah as well as visiting nursing and assisted living facilities. We believe this will be a way for us and Dassah to witness God’s goodness to many people. Just maybe God will reach someone who is lost through Dassah.
This answer to prayer reminds us every day that our God cares about everything in our lives— every little detail we are concerned with He is also… and He indeed gives us the desires of our hearts if we but ask. All the glory for our precious friend goes to Jesus!