By Shirley A. Reynolds
“I just want my dog back! He said. “His name is Shadow! Can you get him back for me?” A disheveled man, wearing nothing but flip-flops, an old tattered flannel shirt tucked inside his overalls, and a baseball cap, stood before the counter.
Shadow was a white curly haired terrier who shared the homeless lifestyle with Roy. He walked over five miles from his tent in the woods to the drop-in center to reveal his story.
“I want my dog back! Can you help?” He cried.
“You see, I hitchhiked to Florida to see my son but he was on drugs. Couldn’t stay. Begged the bus driver to let Shadow ride. But, they said, No dogs on the bus! A pastor in Florida took Shadow and he promised to send him back. It’s been eight weeks. What should I do?”
The center made arrangements for Shadow to fly home first class. News reporters followed us to the airport!
Standing by Roy at the chute where Shadow would appear, he held my hand and said, “No one ever cared this much!” As Shadow’s crate slid down the conveyor belt, Roy watched. Cameras were poised.
When Shadow appeared, Roy called out. “Hey Shadow boy”!
Shadow’s thin, hairless body shook. He perked up his ears and whined. When the crate slid to a halt, Roy opened the door and Shadow sprang into his arms.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again”, he cried.
At the center, we filled a basket with food, and Shadow sat on top wrapped in a child’s sweater.
During winter, the two were frequent visitors. Roy sipped hot chocolate and Shadow ate dog food. When I asked how he and Shadow were doing, he answered, “not so good. I used to live outside, but it’s getting harder.”
“I’ve asked God for a miracle in your life”, I said. “God loves you two!”
With a grin, he said, “Well, He brought Shadow home!”
A donor called wanting to give away a trailer sitting on a piece of land. I answered the person with “I know someone!”
Roy hugged me and said, “Your prayers got through!”
“One homeless man would not be sleeping in the cold”.
Roy sent a thank you card that said, “Dear friends. You cared for an old man. I am warm and I have my friend. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I prayed last night. Might be sumthin’ to your prayers.”
I left the drop-in center a few weeks later due to a change of hours. Sadness plagued me. I had trusted God with my job. I knew it was the Lord, but what about Roy?
I wrote a letter to Roy and he picked it up one day while I was at lunch.
On my last day I kept wishing Roy and Shadow would come to the center. At the end of the day I walked out to my car.
Then, I heard a dog panting. “Hey, Shirley, I got the letter”, someone yelled. I knew that voice. Thank you Lord! Shadow rubbed against my leg and begged for petting.
“Oh Roy, I’m so happy see you. I was sure I’d missed you”.
“I wanted to talk to you! What you said is true. God has a better home for me. I prayed again. Like you said!”
“See? I will pray for you and Shadow. God loves you Roy! Your home is not a green tarp or a tin trailer! It’s more wonderful than you can imagine!”
Roy hugged me, and thanked me for meeting him just as he was! I told him that’s what God does! He meets us just as we are!
BIO
Shirley Reynolds is a freelance writer, retired, retreat speaker, and recently moved from big city suburbia. She enjoys writing, photography, solitude, four-wheeling, and the beauty of a mountain environment. With one grandson, there is a never ending source of material. She has published several stories while presently working on a book regarding her work with street youth.
copyright © 2007 Shirley A. Reynolds. All rights reserved.