Returning Torment with Love

Yesterday I was the driver of one 2 hour leg of a two day journey to get Lacey, a Distemper Survivor, to her forever home. Lacey's story is a remarkable and uplifting one. Lacey has residual neurological effects from her bout with distemper -  a head tremor that everyone hopes will subside with time, and treatment, and love. Despite being shuttled by her past owner 100 miles to a high kill shelter where she contracted the distemper, she was taken in by a wonderful rescue group, Saving Carolina Dogs, (http://savingcarolinadogs.org ). It was touch and go for Lacey for a while. Many dogs do not survive distemper. All the other dogs in the Shelter had to be euthanized. But Saving Carolina Dogs offered to take Lacey, who though quarantined, after the quarantine period contracted the disease, and almost died. The rescue group vetted her, fostered her, and found her someone who was willing to take on the sweet pup, neurological symptoms and all, as her very own.The new owner lived two days away from Lacey's foster family. So a transport team from the Rescue Group membership was set up, all driving a couple of hours or so each to get her to her new home.

When Lacey arrived to me, she had already been traveling a day and a half. Nonetheless, she was nothing but sweetness. She greeted me, as she greets everyone, with quiet submission, tail wagging, and kisses. She was frail and tiny, like a baby deer. Her little head bobs about, particularly when she is tired or stressed, as a result of her bout with distemper. It was bobbing a good bit when she first met me. After a little while, the bobbing lessened and she was playful and sweet saying goodbye to the transport team before me. She was transferred to my car, where she quickly curled up on her bed and went to sleep for the whole drive. She could not have been a more perfect little traveler. I wished I had been offered Lacey first!

All that grief and rejection and horror in her young life, and still she looks upon every human as a friend. She will live with the terrible repercussions of some of the heartless decisions of humans for her whole life. But she bears no rancor, no ill-will, no hatred, no desire for revenge. She returns abuse with love.

A picture of Jesus. We could all use a little of Lacey in us.

Lacey reached her new owner as the second day of travel came to a close. I watched the constant instant messages and photos of her voyage, since I was one of the lucky ones on the group message blessed to have helped transport her to her new life. All of us were breathlessly watching her journey, biting our nails and praying for the moment when she would meet her new family. I knew her all of two hours, but her impact will echo much longer in my soul. Funny how every person she touched along the way had the same reaction. We all wished we had first dibs on Lacey. How could such a terrible history produce such a special dog with such a special kind of love?

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Isaiah 53:5

⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Luke 6:27 

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Matthew 5:44 

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Romans 12:19-21 

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:14 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.