Princess
Story shared with me from Peggy P
Her name was Princess, and it suited her perfectly. She was half German shepherd and bore the beauty of that breed. She had a sweet and gentle nature but could be very protective of those she loved if need arose. She wasn’t easily provoked, but she did have her limits, and a pesky, ugly, neighbor’s dog harassed her to no end. The dog would stand in the middle of the street and bark continuously at Princess. She usually ignored the dog completely, but I guess one day she’d had enough because the neighbors told us they had to take the dog to the vet to stitch up her stomach after Princess got through with her. They threatened to shoot her if she came back into their yard. We didn’t have a fence to keep her in and the agitator out so we had no choice but to chain Princess to her doghouse in the backyard. This was humiliating to Princess, and not acceptable because you see her “other half” was Red-bone hound, and she loved to hunt…rabbits, in particular. We had found this out some time before this happened. She had quit eating her dog food, and we couldn’t figure out why until another neighbor (this one lived behind us) told us that Princess went out early every morning into the woods behind our house and caught her a rabbit for breakfast. I guess dog food seemed mighty bland after that. I’m sure as she lay there day end and day out all she thought about was how good those rabbits tasted because one day she broke free and ran away, taking her chain with her. She didn’t come back, and we looked and looked and called and called. Princess belonged to my son, Jeff and he was devoted to her. He was determined to find her. I don’t remember how long it was before we found her, but we finally heard her barking and followed the sound as it led us into the woods. We found her bound tightly. Her chain had wrapped around a tree and held her to it. She couldn’t move. All she could do was bark, calling out for help. She and my son had a joyous reunion.
I wish I could tell you that the story ended happily ever after, but it didn’t. Chaining wasn’t the answer (we hated doing it anyway), and we certainly didn’t want her shot. We took her to my dad’s house, and he gave her to a man who rode her around in his pickup truck and bragged to every one he saw about her great hunting skills. This was a mistake because one day someone stole her out of his truck. I just hope whoever it was treated her well and gave her the respect she deserved. She was a very special dog and was loyal to my son and our family. I know he still thinks about her and misses her. I know I do.
I was thinking about her this very morning and God used that memory to teach me something. He’s so good at that. You know that dogs were not meant to be chained up. Neither were we, but we come into this world exactly that, born in Adam, chained up to the god of this world, Satan and under the authority of his kingdom. But, praise God, Jesus Christ has set us free from him. All we have to do is ask Him, and He will cut us loose. We run free, not realizing we still have that old chain dragging behind us just looking for an opportunity to trip us up and get a stranglehold on us. What is that chain? Well, it could be childhood abuse, rejection, addiction, or our own bad choices. I could go on. Every link is designed by the enemy to cripple and hold us down. Remember Princess? All she could do was call for help from someone who cared about her. We do the same things, but sometimes it looks and sounds strange. We may reach for a drink or a drug, overeat or look for love in the wrong places. All are calls for help; all futile attempts to get free. God says He has good plans and special purposes for our lives. How does one get free enough to accomplish that? We loved Princess enough to pursue and rescue that beautiful creature. How much more does God love you and want you free from all that would keep you from your destiny? He’s given us Jesus, His wonderful Word full of His promises, authority to us the name of Jesus and the Holy Ghost. Plenty to untangle anyone and everyone.
You do know that if you belong to Jesus you are royalty, King’s kids, don’t you? There’s a popular secular song entitled, “Unchained Melody.” It’s a very popular song and my husband and I love it and claim it as our own special song, but the real “Unchained Melody” comes straight from the Father’s heart. He wants His sons and daughters (Princes and Princesses) to walk free, free from Satan and his kingdom, free from the past, with head held high, and showing forth His glory. Halleujah!
Her name was Princess, and it suited her perfectly. She was half German shepherd and bore the beauty of that breed. She had a sweet and gentle nature but could be very protective of those she loved if need arose. She wasn’t easily provoked, but she did have her limits, and a pesky, ugly, neighbor’s dog harassed her to no end. The dog would stand in the middle of the street and bark continuously at Princess. She usually ignored the dog completely, but I guess one day she’d had enough because the neighbors told us they had to take the dog to the vet to stitch up her stomach after Princess got through with her. They threatened to shoot her if she came back into their yard. We didn’t have a fence to keep her in and the agitator out so we had no choice but to chain Princess to her doghouse in the backyard. This was humiliating to Princess, and not acceptable because you see her “other half” was Red-bone hound, and she loved to hunt…rabbits, in particular. We had found this out some time before this happened. She had quit eating her dog food, and we couldn’t figure out why until another neighbor (this one lived behind us) told us that Princess went out early every morning into the woods behind our house and caught her a rabbit for breakfast. I guess dog food seemed mighty bland after that. I’m sure as she lay there day end and day out all she thought about was how good those rabbits tasted because one day she broke free and ran away, taking her chain with her. She didn’t come back, and we looked and looked and called and called. Princess belonged to my son, Jeff and he was devoted to her. He was determined to find her. I don’t remember how long it was before we found her, but we finally heard her barking and followed the sound as it led us into the woods. We found her bound tightly. Her chain had wrapped around a tree and held her to it. She couldn’t move. All she could do was bark, calling out for help. She and my son had a joyous reunion.
I wish I could tell you that the story ended happily ever after, but it didn’t. Chaining wasn’t the answer (we hated doing it anyway), and we certainly didn’t want her shot. We took her to my dad’s house, and he gave her to a man who rode her around in his pickup truck and bragged to every one he saw about her great hunting skills. This was a mistake because one day someone stole her out of his truck. I just hope whoever it was treated her well and gave her the respect she deserved. She was a very special dog and was loyal to my son and our family. I know he still thinks about her and misses her. I know I do.
I was thinking about her this very morning and God used that memory to teach me something. He’s so good at that. You know that dogs were not meant to be chained up. Neither were we, but we come into this world exactly that, born in Adam, chained up to the god of this world, Satan and under the authority of his kingdom. But, praise God, Jesus Christ has set us free from him. All we have to do is ask Him, and He will cut us loose. We run free, not realizing we still have that old chain dragging behind us just looking for an opportunity to trip us up and get a stranglehold on us. What is that chain? Well, it could be childhood abuse, rejection, addiction, or our own bad choices. I could go on. Every link is designed by the enemy to cripple and hold us down. Remember Princess? All she could do was call for help from someone who cared about her. We do the same things, but sometimes it looks and sounds strange. We may reach for a drink or a drug, overeat or look for love in the wrong places. All are calls for help; all futile attempts to get free. God says He has good plans and special purposes for our lives. How does one get free enough to accomplish that? We loved Princess enough to pursue and rescue that beautiful creature. How much more does God love you and want you free from all that would keep you from your destiny? He’s given us Jesus, His wonderful Word full of His promises, authority to us the name of Jesus and the Holy Ghost. Plenty to untangle anyone and everyone.
You do know that if you belong to Jesus you are royalty, King’s kids, don’t you? There’s a popular secular song entitled, “Unchained Melody.” It’s a very popular song and my husband and I love it and claim it as our own special song, but the real “Unchained Melody” comes straight from the Father’s heart. He wants His sons and daughters (Princes and Princesses) to walk free, free from Satan and his kingdom, free from the past, with head held high, and showing forth His glory. Halleujah!
posted by Diane B at 10:08 PM
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