Divine Appointments

I was walking Honeybun, when I saw a loose dog down the street...a large loose dog.  I saw the owner nearby, but started to turn around to return home another route. The problem was that I was only a half mile from home if I went by the large loose dog, but 2 miles from home if I turned around and avoided the large loose dog. I really didn't think I had another 2 miles in me. What to do!?

So I called out to the owner if it was ok to pass him by. I warned him that if his dog approached mine, she might not react well. He called back, "My dog, my property. He's under control."

Normally I would determine the guy was a jerk, and probably unaware of how unlikely his dog would be under control once he saw Honeybun, but decided I was too tired to turn back. I pulled out my mace, and bravely moved forward into the valley of the shadow of death. 

As I came near, the man must have had pity on me, or wised up to the potential of a problem and put the large loose dog in his car. As I came nearer, the man said, "Oh, a Carolina Dog! Now I understand why you were worried how she might respond to a strange dog."

"You know about Carolina Dogs?" I asked.

That began an hour long conversation with a really nice man who not only knows Carolina Dogs and the breed traits that make them difficult for some people, but he knows all dogs. He is a trainer who has just ventured out forming his own business just 4 months ago. His costs are low, and I am here to tell you, this guy is amazing. (find him on facebook by searching Carolina k9 Solutions.) After talking quite a while about what I had gone through with Honeybun and all her issues, he asked if I would mind if he took the leash and let his dog out. He told me his dog was completely nonaggressive and was who he used to train "reactive" dogs like Honeybun. He let the giant dog out of the van. The dog instantly approached Honeybun, who instantly growled. However, the giant dog turned his back on her and sniffed the ground. Honeybun took the opportunity to sniff his butt. This little meet and greet dance of growl/sniff/ignore went on until soon she was completely calm and happy with him. The trainer, Josh, assured me a few sessions like that, and I would not need to worry about strange dogs. 

"Not all dogs are as nice as yours, nor the owners as knowledgable as you," I reminded him. He agreed, and told me if I ever had any questions, chatting with him was free. And he gave cut-rates for training sessions to rescue dogs and rescues, having been in dog rescue himself for years.

I had a wonderful chat with such a nice and knowledgable person. And Honeybun had a very positive interaction with a large dog, and was perhaps even a little more stable than she had been before meeting him.  I had been so annoyed and angry with him for his dog being loose when I had first seen him. I had been ready to fight, with mace in hand. Instead, God taught me a very important lesson. Every encounter is a divine appointment. Perhaps I was being as "reactive" and defensive as my Honeybun! You never know when you extend interest and kindness what blessings may flow in return.

Oh Lord, again, please give me a gentle heart that loves first above all else!

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We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both. (1 John 4:19-21 MSG)