Yesterday I managed to carve out some time to go for a short run with Toffee, my sweet and very energetic cocker spaniel. I only had a half hour to spare – as usual I was trying to pack a million and one things into my day – so we headed out on a 5km route in our security estate. Because I love running off-road and I also love leaving Toffee to run off the lead, we headed up a jeep track to the perimeter fence where we could follow the single track (used by the on-foot security patrol) all the way around the estate and it would bring us right back outside our house. It was a beautiful day and I felt alive and free! My running time is a good time for me to pray and enjoy Gods presence – I find it so easy to connect when I am in nature and removed from the noise of city life. And I was also quite excited about meeting up with a friend later in the day, to make notes for a story that I will be writing about a mind-blowing miracle that God is busy unfolding in her life (keep your eyes open for that – it should be my next ‘God Stuff’ post). God was showing me some awesome stuff about their lives and I felt so excited and privileged to be in on this journey – a life with God is never dull! That was when my run become everything but dull. We were about 5 minutes from home when we ran into a security guard doing his rounds. At that very moment, Toffee decided to run between the bars of the fence, under the electric wire and explore outside. When she tried to come back inside, she got a horrible shock. The security guard, who was trying his best to help, lifted the electric wire with a stick and we tried again to coax her inside but this time she received an enormous shock and went bolting away, squealing as she ran. The security guard and I stared at each other, wide-eyed with panic (he probably more because he had also been shocked.) I felt completely helpless – the security fence that was meant to keep us safe was now preventing me from rescuing my dog. I shouted my thanks as I raced along the fence, trying to find Toffee. She was now running in the bush along the very busy road that bordered the estate. I told her to sit and stay (what are the chances??) as I charged through the bush up to our house. It must have taken no more than 5 min to jump into the car and drive around to where I had last seen her. My eyes were burning with tears. What if I couldn’t find her. She had no ID tag or chip. I jumped out of the car and started calling her name. Then, one of the groundsmen who happened to be working right there and called me over. He said that a guy in a black car had picked up the dog and driven off in the opposite direction. I felt desperate! I climbed back into my car and started dialing my hubby to tell him my terrible news when a black car pulled up behind me!!!! A young guy got out and started walking over. I rushed towards him asking, or more like begging “Have you found my dog?”
“Yes!” He had almost run her over and didn’t know what to do other than put her in his car. He had driven off, and then turned around at the robot to head home, when he saw me parked on the roadside. Thank you Jesus! Toffee had been the most perfect gift from God, perfect for our family in almost every way (I say almost because Clayton is still not mad about dogs and dog hair) and I just could not bear the thought of loosing her.
But as the scripture goes; “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,” It may have been a small thing, but God did his work. I couldn’t stop thanking Him as I drove off, with Toffee beside me, straight to fetch the girls from school. I had’t missed a beat, I would be right on time. Everything had worked out perfectly.