A Border Collie Mom __ And Her Teenage Son

It must have been about twenty-five years ago that a most unusual event happened to my son and his wife. They had been out hunting and stopped by their friend’s house for a visit. While they were visiting they left their Ford Bronco door open and walked around to see what the friend wanted to show them.

Much to their surprise when they got ready to go home they had two four-legged passengers crouched down in the back of the SUV. When my son ordered them out, the Border Collie mom and her half-grown pup was not about to leave without a fight. Again, more forcefully, she was ordered to get out. This Border collie mom raised her lip, shining her teeth, and loudly began to protest. 

 My son wasn’t quite ready to grab this growling dog and throw her out. This Lady meant business. She and her son were not going to get out of the Bronco.

My son asked if the dog belonged to his friend. “No” he said, she and her pup just strayed in here a few days ago.  I don’t know where she came from. The neighbor said they drove them off with a few shotgun blasts.”  So my son’s friend told him that they were going to shoot them, because no one wanted them.

My daughter-in-law and son could not bear the thoughts of these two dogs in the backend of their vehicle being shot to death. So they closed the door and drove to our house on their way home. 

“Mom, come see what is in our vehicle.” I did and there they were cowering down in the back of the Bronco. The kids said that they had tried to get them to come out but they wouldn’t. Dogs love me so I thought with a few kind words they would come right out. They did not! Mama dog just growled a little louder.

Leaving the door open and after a long time, they finally jumped out and went sniffing around the place. We pretended not to see them as not to frighten them more than they already were.

After hours of sitting on a bucket, scooting a few inches closer at a time, coaxing and persuading the mama dog with food, meat, and other goodies from my refrigerator, she finally let me get within a couple of feet from her. It was near dark, the sun had set a long time ago. At this point, I said to her, “look little Lady, and I’ll sit here all night if I have to till you give in. I will not give up, do you hear?”  From that day on she was "Miss Lady." I told her over and over that I would be the best friend she would ever have if she would just trust me. 

All five hours of this time spent with her, she kept her back to me and occasionally would look over her shoulder in my direction. She now turned and faced me and looked right at me. She was just a couple of feet from me. She did a lip curl [teeth showing]. I wasn’t sure if she was going to sink her teeth into me or what was going to happen next, but what happened after that only God would believe me.

 She got up, took two steps closer and laid her head on my shoulder and licked my neck and ear. I wrapped my arms around her and cried like a baby. I held her that way for what seemed like an hour and she didn’t bother to move till I let her loose.

 Well__ I don’t know how much she understood of that one-sided conversation, but I do know this, it was this event that the Lord used to plant the seeds in my heart for a ministry that would touch countless hurting, abused young women with a child that no one wanted.

I have thanked the Lord countless times over the years for letting me see myself and other hurting young women through an encounter with a Border Collie mom and her teenage pup that no one wanted or felt was worthy of life. He let me see that I would have to win these young women’s trust, which may take a long time. Many lessons were taught and learned in those few hours.

The Lord let me see that every person was valuable and that if I would take the time [be patient as I was with Lady dog] to hear their story that He, by His blood would redeem them. He would give back to them what the enemy had stolen from them. Jesus kept His promise to me. I have seen many young women’s lives restored.  And yes, I have to say thank you Jesus for using a Border Collie, named Lady, to awaken a great ministry in me.

Don’t ever underestimate what is in your hands or your home that God may use to open a new world for you. Remember He used a throw away dog to show me what was in store for me.