DANNY was sailing his new boat LI on the creek at the back of Grandpa’s farm. Sandy the dog had been playing on the bank nearby, when suddenly he disappeared on another adventure.
Danny had been glad to find a ruing stream where he could sail his little craft, and he pretended it was carrying food parcels to hungry children across the sea. He became so enthused that not watching his footing, he tripped over a rock and the next moment he had tumbled headlong into the creek.
At first he was so frightened he almost panicked. There was no one in sight to help. Then he heard Sandy barking in the meadow. Danny remembered that Sandy disliked the water and would never go in the creek. However, he knew he had a Friend in the Lord and he prayed that He would help him to safety again.
Then he heard the dog’s barking getting nearer and nearer, and he cried out, “Sandy, come and help; I’m going downstream.”
The dog knew something was wrong with his young master, and arriving at the bank he saw at a glance the danger he was in. Forgetting his own dislike of the water, Sandy plunged into the stream and swam out to where Danny struggled for his life. The boy took hold of the dog’s collar and so kept his head out of water. Together they headed for shore and shortly reached the bank in safety.
“Oh Sandy, you’re a brave dog after all,” gasped Danny, “and besides, you came in answer to my prayer.” Sandy’s only reply was a wag of his tail and a big shake that sent the water flying all over his young master. While Danny was busy wringing out his wet clothes and pulling in his boat, Sandy kept right alongside him.
Then the boy pulled himself tether, and thanked the Lord for answering his prayer and bringing him to safety.
“We must tell Grandpa about it, Sandy,” said Danny. “He will be anxious when he knows what happened.” So with the dog at his heels he headed for home. On the way they met his grandfather and Danny soon told him of how Sandy had saved him from the swirling stream.
“Well,” chuckled Grandpa, thankfully, “Sandy proved himself a real friend, and I am proud of him. He is a good friend for a boy to have around.”
“Besides, Grandpa,” said Danny, “I prayed to the Lord to save me and He sent Sandy to help me in to shore.”
“I am glad you have found the Lord as a Friend,” returned Grandpa. “If you have faith to trust Him as your Lord and Saviour He will never leave nor forsake you. He is the one Friend who will never fail you.”
ML-11/22/1970