Let’s Go, Bullet

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.

ICE PELLETS STUNG SARAH’S FACE as she walked her year-old dog, Bullet, early one February morning. As the sleet increased, Sarah picked up speed, doing her best to avoid icy spots on the sidewalk.

“Only for you, Bullet. Only for you would I walk in the freezing cold before dawn.” With her husband, Kory, away on business, and her workday full of meetings, Sarah knew Bullet needed to burn off some energy at the dog park before being left at home for the day.

When they arrived, they had the park to themselves. Sarah closed the gate behind her and unsnapped the leash from Bullet’s collar. “Go on. Have fun,” she said, watching him run around the inside perimeter of the enclosure. You’ve made so much progress since we met you at the animal shelter, Bullet.

Six months earlier, the Lab mix had bonded readily to Sarah, gladly accepting pets and belly rubs, but he was much more nervous around men.

Sarah had reached out to the animal shelter for more information. It had broken her heart to discover the horrific abuse her dog had suffered at the hands of his previous owner—a man with no patience for an exuberant puppy.

Sarah and Kory had worked hard to gain Bullet’s trust. And while it had taken several months, Bullet was finally starting to let Kory hand him a treat. But Bullet still wouldn’t come near Sarah’s dad, who loved dogs and visited often.

“It’s a work in progress,” her dad would say, shrugging off Bullet’s behavior. “I’ll win him over one of these days.”

This morning Bullet came bounding to Sarah—clearly wanting to play. She glanced around. Yes! There was a tennis ball near the picnic tables. Bullet began jumping with anticipation, as Sarah placed the ball on the ground.

“Do you want it? You’d better start running,” Sarah said playfully.

She swung her leg out to kick the ball and . . . slipped on a patch of black ice that had been hidden under the snow. Her feet flew out from under her as she fell over backward, instinctively putting her hands behind her to break her fall.

As she tried to get up, everything seemed to be spinning, and intense pain was shooting up and down her arms.

Something is wrong with my wrists. I can’t make it home with Bullet. I can’t hold his leash. I need to get help. She inched one hand slowly to her pocket and pulled out her phone. She could barely dial her parents’ number.

Her dad said he was on his way.

Sarah managed to get to a picnic table, so exhausted and dizzy she could barely call Bullet’s name. The reality of the situation made the pain worse.

How was she going to get Bullet to go to her dad and get him into the car?

Bullet sat several feet away from Sarah, head tilted, eyes fixed on her. Then he resumed his exploration of the park but kept a watchful eye on her.

And then her dad was there. He drove his SUV straight down the hill path and up to the dog park gate. When he got out of the car, Sarah watched helplessly. What would Bullet do?

Bullet looked at Sarah and seemed to sense that something was wrong. He began walking toward her dad. He stopped, lowered his head, and stayed still as Sarah’s dad clipped a leash to Bullet’s collar.

“Let’s go, Bullet,” he said. Immediately Bullet jumped in the backseat of the car.

“Told you he would come around,” her dad said with a wink, as he came back and helped Sarah to the car.

And indeed Bullet did. As Sarah’s broken wrists healed, so did Bullet’s fear of Sarah’s dad; they bonded deeply, eventually becoming the very best of friends.

PAWS & PONDER . . .

While Bullet’s fear of men was understandable and justified, why could that fear have been a “snare” for him in this situation? What might have happened if Bullet hadn’t trusted Sarah’s father? Is it easy for you to shrug off what others think of you or what they can do to you? How does trusting in the Lord keep you safe?

Paws & Pray

Father God, help me to trust in you more and more each day. Sometimes it is difficult for me to remember that you are bigger and greater and stronger than my fears. Open my eyes to see the truth—that no one can harm my soul or take me away from you. Bolster my courage!