Mrs. Grady lived high up in the San Jacinto Mountains in Idyllwild, California. She loved dogs and had two of her own. She took good care of her pets, but a nearby neighbor had several unlicensed dogs which were allowed to run loose.
This neighbor’s dog had a large litter of puppies, among which was a friendly little female puppy. Mrs. Grady often saw this puppy sitting outside, cold and hungry. She would call, “Here puppy, here puppy,” and when the puppy came running, she would give her some food. The puppy grew to be a beautiful, friendly dog, but she had never been given a name. She often came to Mrs. Grady’s home for treats, and when it was cold or rainy outside, she would stay in the house all night. As Mrs. Grady continued calling to her, “Here puppy-puppy, here puppy-puppy,” it soon became the name everybody used for her. She had a name at last: Puppy-Puppy.
Most children are given a name soon after they are born. Not only do their parents know their names, but the Lord Jesus knows each one of their names too, because He loves all children. The Bible tells us that He is the Good Shepherd, and “He [calls] His own sheep by name ... and ... they know His voice” (John 10:3-4). Are you one of His own sheep, and do you know His voice?
When Puppy-Puppy was two years old, Mrs. Grady’s neighbor’s dog had another litter of puppies. In that litter there was one little puppy which soon became Puppy-Puppy’s best friend. They were always running and
playing together.
When the new little puppy was about five months old, there was a terrible scare in that neighborhood. A large, hungry mountain lion, which weighed almost 200 pounds, came down into Idyllwild and caught several little dogs. Mountain lions sleep during the day and prowl in search of food at night. A mountain lion is very strong and moves about quietly looking for food. It is also very quick and suddenly leaps on its prey, killing it, and then carrying it off to
its den.
One night when Puppy-Puppy was sleeping at Mrs. Grady’s home, the dog became very restless and excited. She ran to the door and scratched frantically to get out. Mrs. Grady knew something was very wrong, and so she let Puppy-Puppy out.
The dog ran furiously to her home. There was the mountain lion, crouching and creeping slowly towards the sleeping little puppy. The neighbor saw it and threw a pop can at the mountain lion to scare it off, but it didn’t work. It didn’t even flinch. Just then Puppy-Puppy arrived and ran between the mountain lion and her little puppy friend. Instantly the lion grabbed Puppy-Puppy and hurried off to its den.
We can be touched by love like this that one animal can have for another animal, but it is just a faint picture of the love that the Son of God had for you, when He died on the cross to save you from the just result of your sins. “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). The Lord Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). He has this great love for you! Do you believe it?
Memory Verse: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 15:13-14
Messages of God’s Love 9/12/2021