A Cute Bundle of Fur I Named Coda / Mrs Jennie Walter

 

Mrs Jennie Walter

Pastor's Wife

Victory Baptist Church

Winthrop, Maine

Last September I got a puppy. 

A cute bundle of fur I named Coda. 

He was everything I prayed for.......color, size, nonshedding, etc. The only drawback seemed to be his immense fear of everything. He was at a puppy store with about fifty other puppies. He was the only puppy in the whole store that was trembling in the corner of his cage. Every other puppy was barking, jumping and yelping as we passed their cages......anything to get our attention and love. Begging to be petted. This made me even more curious about Coda. I asked to get a closer look at Coda and the employee took Coda and put him in a play area with other puppies. The other puppies immediately went to Coda and tried to play with him. Coda quickly retreated to the far corner, trembling. He wanted nothing to do with the puppies or the toys. 

Did Coda know abuse in the first five months of his life? I don't know. Was Coda reacting to his sister having been sold the week before? I have no idea. I know nothing about his history. But my heart ached at the sight of the scared little puppy and so I bought him and brought him home. 

The first few days we had him he refused food and water. He would not come out of his kennel. He did not use the bathroom at all. He did not bark or make any other sounds. He just trembled and viewed us through sad, mournful eyes. 

Four months later Coda is a much different puppy! He eats regularly and comes running for treats. He happily leaves his kennel when you open the door. He has a little box of toys that he loves to rummage through and find his favorite bones and chew toys. He plays fiercely with our other two dogs. He jumps on my lap when I sit down. He barks when someone comes to the door. And he brings us joy all day long.

What is the difference between then and now? Love. Lots and lots of love. Mingled with patience, acceptance and kindness. 

I was thinking about Coda's transformation and my heart was smitten with conviction. Do I offer this much love......and patience......and acceptance......and kindness to each lady that walks in my church? Do I truly love each lady at the stage she is at? Do I accept them for who they are? Am I patient as they grow? Does my love help cast out the fears they are burdened with? I may not know all their history that brought them to this point, but I don't need to know their past. I just need to love them in their present state. 

If love can transform a puppy, what can God's love flowing through me do for the ladies in my church? I am rededicating myself to find out. 

I John 4:18-19 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us."