“Is Daddy going to be mad?” Brenna wondered from the back seat. I heard that question four times between the time I made the decision and the time David got home to see what we had done.
“If I thought he was going to be mad, I wouldn’t have done it,” I consoled. But I had my doubts. I knew he’d be tired when he finally got home and I wondered if he’d resent our new guest. I thought back over our morning, trying to determine if I’d done the right thing.
It was a perfect, sunny Saturday, warm and bright, and we’d gone out the farm store to pick up a few little things we needed. That’s where we met Max. He was down on his luck, in desperate need of a bath and a good meal, and we were all moved with compassion for him. We talked to him for a while, walked with him, tried to make sure he wouldn’t do us any harm if we brought him home, but I still wasn’t sure. We left him behind to finish our shopping, to give me a little space to think.
I caught glimpses of him sometimes as we rounded the aisles. Max just sat quietly by a sunny window, people watching. There was a deep sadness in his brown eyes that touched our hearts, and in the ten minutes it took us to make our small purchase, I decided. Max was coming home with us.
I had all the fears you’d expect, bringing a stranger home to our farm full of young children, my husband gone for the day. The call to show mercy must often be balanced by a need for safety. Max has been a perfect gentleman, though, and he’s already a good friend, generous with his time and his love, eager to please those around him, content with the life he’s been given.
Hours later, when David finally got home, he took one look at Max and sighed. He wasn’t mad, though. Later that evening, as we lounged in the living room together, David, Max and me, he smiled and said, “It’s fun, having a dog.”
That’s so great!! I feel so bad for every homeless dog, I usually want to save them all. But just saving one counts a lot. I’m glad David was okay with your decision
Well, I know to avoid the farm store on Saturdays, anyway.
That is so great! Max is a very lucky pooch and I am sure he will bring you all many smiles!
So when do we get to see a snap shot of Mr. Max? Other than brown eyes we have no clue what he looks like!
My new camera will arrive via Fedex tomorrow, and then I suspect you will be seeing a lot more pictures. Max included.
And when I get my new computer set up I will be able to do a lot more with my blogging as well. (And a lot more writing!) Looking forward to getting a scanner and setting up a nice little corner in my bedroom where I can work during quiet hour (2-3)and sometimes in the evenings! We have a number of older computers that we have recycled and will re-arrange in the schooling areas for the children to use for writing and research and finally I will have a computer that is ONLY for me! I am excited about working on photo projects for my family was well with my new computer and I am looking forward to Hugo helping me to design my computer. (Hugo bought me a lovely camera last year I will get to know it a little better when I have my own corner to work in!)
Very nice, Christi!
Congratulations on the new friendly addition!
He’s the best dog we’ve ever had. He’s potty trained, he doesn’t chew stuff up, and all he wants is love. We only have two problems with him. 1: He’s a boy and all our other animals are girls which results in many, many misuses of the pronoun “she”. 2: He ran off a couple of times yesterday, which is likely what landed him in the pound in the first place, but I hate when other people’s dogs roam our property, and I’m not going to let him be one of those dogs, too. Easy enough, right? He’s great with the kids and non-destructive and that’s what counts.
That’s great! We found our dog in a similar way, and Frank has been a member of the family for four years now. I kind of wonder what we did before we had him.
Rescues and shelter dogs make the best pets!
My girls keep telling us our farm needs a dog.
I keep thinking is there one who won’t go after chickens…
but they are right a dog does make a farm complete.
come visit
dlynyesterday.blogspot.com
Welcome Max. You watch out for all my grandbabies and their Mommy and Daddy for me. I look forward to meeting you in April.
Congrats to you on getting a great dog (esp housebroken and a non-chewer!) and congrats to Max on finding a good home! We got our Max this past December thru a craigslist “free to a good home” ad. He’s a good dog but is still working on not jumping on people and not eating non-food items. He’s a 1 yo yellow lab and so good with the kids. A dog helps round out a family, I think.
You got a dog!!! Sigh. The kids want another dog but I don’t think we’re ready. Plus Cate’s got really bad allergies…
You really cannot beat a stray dog that picks YOU! They make the best pets – loyal, faithful, anxious to love and to please you.