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. At night he would stand guard by the campfire while his master slept.
Sport was a born wolf-fighter. A timber wolf would normally be more than a match for a dog, but Sport possessed size and strength, as well as being smart and fearless. More than once he had taken on and whipped a wolf that prowled too close to camp.
However, Sport seemed to know he could not defend himself if he went too far into the forest alone where he might meet a pack of wolves. So he wisely stayed close to his master on their trapping trips.
Then one day a little baby boy, Jean, was born into the Minnett household. Jean captured Sport’s affections as soon as he arrived. The dog would lie by the hour beside the baby’s crib or carriage. As Jean grew older and learned to walk he would hang onto the great dog’s fur. He could maul Sport around without any resentment from the dog. So 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 why the wolves came so close to the house in broad daylight.
Dozing in the sunlight, Sport was roused by the hated wolf scent, and springing to his feet he saw the three wolves enter the clearing. Sport seemed to know 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, at the mercy of the three wolves.
For Sport there was only one thing to do. Sport ran out to meet the invading enemies. He moved around always keeping his own body between the wolves and little Jean. Sparring with his snarling enemies, he finally got the wolves turned with their backs to the baby, while he began 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, with 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 little Jean. It was Sport’s last fight. He never returned.
God the Creator has given many of His creatures the devotedness that we see here in Sport. How often we see in a dog the love and devotion that fills our heart with wonder and admiration. But the love and devotion of the Creator Himself is greater than all the love of His creatures—including man.
The devotion of Christ to God His Father and His love to poor sinners whom He came to save, was “unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:88And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8). 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 awful punishment against sin could ever touch even the weakest child who trusts Him as his or her Saviour. He has borne it all.
May the story of a gallant dog’s faithfulness lead our thoughts to the far more wonderful story of Jesus and His love. May it occupy our minds with Him who, when we were yet sinners, died for us, but who now lives again in the glory with God.
If you do not know this precious Saviour, we urge you to receive Him by faith into your heart now, and enjoy His love and companionship all the way from earth to heaven.
ML-12/26/1982