Kelly was the most wonderful puppy in the whole world. To anyone else, he might seem like just an ordinary dog, but to Robbie he was everything. Daddy had brought home the playful puppy for Robbie’s eighth birthday, and he loved his dog.
Robbie and Kelly did almost everything together. Even running errands for his mother was fun for Robbie when Kelly was along. When he came home from school, Kelly was always waiting to meet him. But one sad day Kelly was not waiting when Robbie got home.
“Where’s Kelly?” he asked his mother.
“He’s probably curled up sleeping somewhere in the back,” she replied. “He’s around here somewhere.”
When Daddy came home, Robbie still had not found Kelly. “Where did you last see him?” he asked Robbie.
“He followed me partway to school this morning. Do you think he could’ve gotten lost and can’t find his way home?”
“We’ll go out and look for him after supper,” his father promised.
But when bedtime came, Kelly still had not been found, and Robbie cried himself to sleep. Long, lonesome days followed, with no sign of the little dog.
“I’m afraid a car has run over him, Rob,” his father said. “But never mind, we’ll get another puppy for you.”
Another puppy? Robbie felt as if his heart would break. There would never be another dog like Kelly!
Several weeks later Robbie was on his way to the store for his mother when a low whimper caught his attention. Peering through a hedge, he saw Kelly straining on a rope that was tied to his collar. Quickly Robbie opened the gate into the yard and began untying the knot that held Kelly.
“Hey, kid, what do you think you’re doin’ to my dog?” demanded an angry voice. Robbie looked up and saw a big boy several years older than himself.
“This is my dog,” answered Robbie. “I lost him a few weeks ago. How did you get him?”
“Since when is he your dog?” sneered the older boy. “He’s mine now, and don’t try to take him!”
Robbie could hardly keep from crying and he was really scared, but he didn’t want to leave Kelly there. Suddenly he had an idea. “Would you sell him to me?” he asked.
The boy thought for a minute. “How much is he worth to ya?” he asked finally.
“I’ve only got seven dollars, but I’ll give it all to you.”
“Okay, tell you what,” said the boy. “You give me the seven dollars. Then I’ll untie the mutt and if he wants to go home with you, you can have him, but if he wants to stay with me, then he’s still mine.”
As Robbie ran home to get his money, questions raced through his mind: What if Kelly has forgotten me? What if he stays with the other boy? In spite of his doubts, he ran back as fast as he could with his wallet and gave all his money to the boy.
“Okay, mutt, it’s up to you,” said the boy as the knot was untied. With one excited bark, Kelly raced through the gate to Robbie, jumping all over him, and together they ran home.
Robbie loved Kelly a lot to give all his money to buy him back, didn’t he? I think Kelly was happy not to belong to the other boy and to be free to go with Robbie. This is a little picture of how much the Lord Jesus loved us. He gave all He had to buy us back from being captive to two cruel masters — Satan and the world. He paid for us with His own life. “Our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world” (Galatians 1:3-43Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:3‑4)). Are you also happy to be free, and do you follow the Lord Jesus, who gave Himself for you?
Messages of God’s Love 12/1//2024