I was on my kayak when I heard a man from shore desperately calling for help to his wife who was on a kayak just a few feet away from me.
“Help, come quick, come quick! The dog is hooked on a fishing hook!“
The wife frantically paddled to shore. I called out “I have a scissors in my kayaK If you think that would help!”
The wife told me that whatever I had might be of use and to please come.
The man had the dog cradled against his leg and was panicked, trying to push the hook either through the skin one way or pull it out. He was having no success. The barb had dug into the dog’s skin and would not come out.
The woman tried to help hold the dog and make a suggestion. The man snapped at her.
“Just move away!“ he barked.
Quietly, she stepped back. And then in a gentle voice she said, “I know you’re frustrated but I’m only trying to help. Please don’t snap at me.“
With sweat pouring down his face, the man continued working to dislodge the hook. I told him about my scissors. He said he just didn’t know how they would be of use. He was angry when I spoke again, shushing me, but I knew I had an idea that would be useful, so I soldiered on.
“Maybe use the scissors just to cut the fishing line away,“ I said, “That might make things easier for you to manipulate the hook.“
I handed the scissors to the wife who tried unsuccessfully to cut the line. Again the frustrated and frazzled man snapped at her and snatched the scissors from her hand.
Once more, in a quiet voice she told him, “I know you’re frustrated, but don’t take it out on me.”
Red-faced but silent, the man cut the line.
The sweet dog was trembling and every so often would groan with pain but never made any attempt to nip at the man or get away. He knew the man was trying to help. He would endure whatever was necessary from his master to be freed from the snare.
I was silently praying that God would help the situation. Suddenly the man cried out, “Dear Jesus, I can’t do this! Please help!”
Instantly, and miraculously, the hook came out. The dog was freed, and the man yelped with joy. The woman smiled at me, handing back my scissors.
“A miracle!“ I said, “I was praying too!“
The couple smiled at me and said they thought I was.
“As soon as I asked Jesus for help,“ the man said, “did you see how the hook came out?“
“I did,“ I said, “God is so good.“
“All the time,“ the couple said in unison.
The dog swam happily in the water behind their kayaks. I headed off on my own kayak. I thought about the many reminders and visual images of important truths that God had shown me in that incident.
He showed me that sometimes in frustration we lash out and harm those closest to us because we’re desperate and powerless and we don’t know what to do. However, when we turn to our Master with complete trust and faith as the dog did, we are ultimately freed from the snares that entangle us.
And I was encouraged that when we are helpless and we call out to Jesus, He intercedes.
God is good all the time.
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12
💜 He is!
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