Best Fifty Dollars I Ever Spent
by Kyle Childress
It was the day before Mothers Day in 2003.
The kids and I had gone to Walmart to pick up a few things (probably a last minute card and a present for Mom!). I don’t know what caused me to pause a little as we turned into the parking lot that afternoon because I am usually uninterested in what people are selling out of their cars on the parking lot. But there in a cage, on the tailgate of a truck was a white Jack Russell pup with a spot over his eye and one around his tail. Needless to say a deal was struck and for fifty dollars we were bringing home , not just a puppy but a Mothers Day present!!
Mom was probably not initially too impressed with her gift of small messes around the house and a few puddles here and there to clean up, but it didn’t take long for her to warm up to the little guy we would name Lucky.
As I am writing this today I am very sad, this morning we had to say goodbye to that little guy. He has truly been a member of the family for over nine years. He was one of the best dogs we have ever had. It has been said many times that all he wanted in life was to love and to be loved. He would always greet you at the door when you came home, he would be faithfully by your side when you were with him. He never demanded anything of you, just a little pat on the head and treat every now and then was all he needed. Over the last year or so he had gotten to where he would just crawl up beside you and lay his head on your lap just wanting you to love on him.
His love was enduring.
God knew what he was doing when he created dogs, I believe they are truly “Man’s Best Friend”. With the same creator, it is not a surprise that we share some of the same needs. People just like dogs, need to know they are loved. Our society is filled with people who are doing all kinds of things to draw the attention to themselves just to experience something as small as a pat on the head or treat of approval once in a while.
1 Corinthians chapter 13 tells us what love is all about. It is patient, it is kind, not jealous, does not boast , nor is arrogant, it’s not selfish, and it endures all things. The chapter ends with this quote: “Now Faith, hope, love, abide these three, but the greatest of these is love.” No matter how hard we try, we cannot buy the kind of love that we should show one another.
That can only be given.
How much different would this world be if we all worked a little harder at showing people that we love them and care for them? That kind of love impacts the Kingdom. That kind of love is what builds lasting relationships, grows disciples, and brings the lost to Christ. Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul and the second was to love your neighbor as yourself.
Let’s work hard to put God first in our lives and to love others above and beyond ourselves.You never know what difference you can make in someone's life by just showing a little love
It was the day before Mothers Day in 2003.
The kids and I had gone to Walmart to pick up a few things (probably a last minute card and a present for Mom!). I don’t know what caused me to pause a little as we turned into the parking lot that afternoon because I am usually uninterested in what people are selling out of their cars on the parking lot. But there in a cage, on the tailgate of a truck was a white Jack Russell pup with a spot over his eye and one around his tail. Needless to say a deal was struck and for fifty dollars we were bringing home , not just a puppy but a Mothers Day present!!
Mom was probably not initially too impressed with her gift of small messes around the house and a few puddles here and there to clean up, but it didn’t take long for her to warm up to the little guy we would name Lucky.
As I am writing this today I am very sad, this morning we had to say goodbye to that little guy. He has truly been a member of the family for over nine years. He was one of the best dogs we have ever had. It has been said many times that all he wanted in life was to love and to be loved. He would always greet you at the door when you came home, he would be faithfully by your side when you were with him. He never demanded anything of you, just a little pat on the head and treat every now and then was all he needed. Over the last year or so he had gotten to where he would just crawl up beside you and lay his head on your lap just wanting you to love on him.
His love was enduring.
God knew what he was doing when he created dogs, I believe they are truly “Man’s Best Friend”. With the same creator, it is not a surprise that we share some of the same needs. People just like dogs, need to know they are loved. Our society is filled with people who are doing all kinds of things to draw the attention to themselves just to experience something as small as a pat on the head or treat of approval once in a while.
1 Corinthians chapter 13 tells us what love is all about. It is patient, it is kind, not jealous, does not boast , nor is arrogant, it’s not selfish, and it endures all things. The chapter ends with this quote: “Now Faith, hope, love, abide these three, but the greatest of these is love.” No matter how hard we try, we cannot buy the kind of love that we should show one another.
That can only be given.
How much different would this world be if we all worked a little harder at showing people that we love them and care for them? That kind of love impacts the Kingdom. That kind of love is what builds lasting relationships, grows disciples, and brings the lost to Christ. Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul and the second was to love your neighbor as yourself.
Let’s work hard to put God first in our lives and to love others above and beyond ourselves.You never know what difference you can make in someone's life by just showing a little love