DOG DAY DEFENSE
By: Ely Lagajino
“What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?” Psalm 8:4. (ESV)
In March, two puppies were born at the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic lockdown. We named the younger puppy COVID 1 and the older puppy COVID 9 but nicknamed them C1 and C9. They both grew up into active dogs in a cage. Sadly, C1 died, leaving C9 alone in the cell.
One day C9 managed to escape. The situation became a problem because C9 would not allow anyone, including me, to touch him and put him back. I often lose my patience chasing him around our yard that, in some instances, I would throw a piece of wood or stone at him to stop the dog from running. Instead of acting as man’s best friend, C9 became my worst enemy.
Last week we experienced three days of continuous downpour. When the rain stopped, I visited my garden. I had two papaya trees heavy rwith fruit beside our garage. While I was looking up counting the papayas, C9 kept barking behind me. Annoyed by the noise, I stopped counting and chased the dog towards the backyard to make him stop. Suddenly we heard a thunderous sound of falling timber, then a crash on the roof as we felt a tremendous shaking of the ground.
A big old tree fell right on the spot from where I stood seconds ago. It broke down our garage wall, and decapitated the papaya tree. As I picked up the green papayas from the ground, I realized that C9’s keen dog-ears must have heard the gradual sound of cracking wood. God used whom I considered my enemy to save my life. Such is the Love of Jesus for me; and for you too.
And as for C9, I give him extra rice every meal as a gift for his heroic bark.
About The Author
Ely Lagajino
Ely Lagajino graduated AB Social Science from Adventist University of the Philippines. He earned his way through high school and college as a working student. The stories and articles posted in scribe.ph are testaments of God’s leading in his life through serving and associating with various communities and individuals, Bible study, research, and careers that have spanned more than 5 decades. Ely and his wife Elmie who edits his articles, along with their five children who serve in the allied health and business professions, just love to share Jesus to the rest of the world, while waiting for His soon return.