A Minister in Canada shares:

My husband and I are adopting Harley, a 12-year-old foster dog, who is arthritic with early-stage kidney disease.  We put aside our tenderness from the passing of our 16.5-year-old dog in February as we realized we are good at caring for older dogs and helping them to live and love fully until their last breath. I love that as a ministry.

Harley and I go for walks each morning in the nearby forest. One morning he started whining earlier than usual. So off we went.

On the trail we met an older man speaking on his phone in a language that sounded like Arabic. Out of respect, I moved off the path as we passed each other. He thanked me and then asked if he could take a video of “the dog” for his young grandson, Ahmed, with whom he was video conferencing. He shared with me that he and his family had immigrated to Canada 7 months earlier. However, his daughter and her family had been caught behind the now closed borders of Gaza. He was showing them, by video, the world where they are going to live one day. His grandson wanted to see Harley. I shared how Harley came to us, and the grandfather translated for his grandson. We all conversed as best we could, waving and smiling and saying hello. And he asked to take a photo of Harley along with his face so his daughter could use it as her screensaver. I told them I would pray for them. He thanked me and I replied with my only Arabic word — “Shukran” (thank you in Arabic). My heart opened.

This sweet dog has the most beautiful ministry. I am grateful I listened to his lead.

Harley