Sport was a big powerful dog who belonged to Andre Minnett, a woodsman who lived at Seguin Falls in Ontario years ago. Minnett’s home was in a clearing in the woods. Sport used to go with his master on trapping trips through the forest, and at night he would stand guard by the campfire while his master slept.
Sport was a born wolf-fighter. Not only did he possess size and strength, but he was clever and fearless as well. More than once he had whipped a wolf that prowled too close to camp, though ordinarily a timber wolf would be more than a match for a dog of his size.
However, Sport knew he could not defend himself if he ventured far into the forest alone and there encountered a pack of wolves, so he wisely kept close to his master on his camping trips.
Then one day a little baby boy was born into the Minnett household. Jean, the little newcomer, captured Sport’s affections and became his idol almost as soon as he arrived. The dog would lie by the hour beside the baby’s crib or carriage. Hanging onto the great dog’s fur, little Jean took his first tottering steps. He could maul Sport around without the slightest resentment from the dog, and his mother felt her baby was entirely safe while Sport was on guard.
One day, Minnett went to the top of a hill not far away to cut logs. Mrs. Minnett had put little Jean in his carriage out in the yard in the sunshine, and leaving the kitchen door open, she went back to her housework. Sport stretched out on the ground beside the carriage.
Looking up from his work, Minnett caught sight of three large hungry-looking wolves slinking down the hillside toward the clearing. Supposing that his little son was safe indoors with his mother, and that Sport was around too, he was not really concerned. Still he watched to see what induced them to come so close to human habitation in broad daylight.
Dozing in the sunlight, the hated wolf scent roused Sport, and springing to his feet he saw the three wolves enter the clearing. Sport knew well that he could not handle three timber wolves alone. Behind him was the open doorway into which he could have run for shelter, but this would mean leaving little Jean, whom he loved more than life, at the mercy of the three savage marauders.
There was only one thing to do. Sport ran out to meet the invading enemies. He maneuvered around always keeping his own body between them and little Jean. Sparring like a prizefighter with his snarling enemies, he finally got the wolves with their backs to the baby, while he himself was edging off into the woods. It seemed that both sides were afraid to make the first attack. Then suddenly, as if terrified, Sport turned and dashed off into the woods, the three wolves following hard at his heels.
Brave Sport did what he set out to do. The gallant dog made that heroic sacrifice to save the life of his little charge. It was his last fight. He never returned.
Some part of the bright character of God, the Creator, is stamped upon all the creatures He has made. How often in a dog is seen a love and devotion that fills the heart with wonder and admiration. But the love and devotion of the Creator Himself transcends all His works. The devotion of Christ to God His Father and His love to poor sinners whom He came to save, was “even unto death, and that the death of the cross.” There in those dark hours He stood between us and the enemy — “our sins in all their terror there, God’s wrath and Satan’s power.” Not one stroke of that fearful judgment against sin could ever touch the weakest child that trusts Him as his Saviour. He has borne it all.
May the story of a gallant dog’s faithfulness only lead our thoughts to the far more wonderful story of Jesus and His love, and occupy our minds with Him who when we were yet sinners died for us, but who now lives again in the glory of God.
Dear reader, if you do not know this precious Saviour, oh that you might receive Him by faith into your heart now, and enjoy His love and companionship, His guidance and protection all the way from earth to heaven!
’Tis wonderful to me
That I am loved by Thee.
ML-07/17/1977