First Love

 

It seems that the things we really love to do are the things we always return to. And it seems that it's no different for animals. The second Diesel snapped his leash in two, he immediately returned to his first love, chasing cars.

I was in the kitchen browning some meat on the stove when Jacob burst through the door with the news that Diesel was loose. I could not walk away from my pan, so I sent Jacob out to get the bag of treats and to try to call him back. The thing is, that although Diesel has lived with us for two, almost three years now, he is really still the lone, rangy guy he was the day we first met. He doesn't come when he is called, he never responds to his name in any way and even on the bitterly cold nights we've had this winter I've had to literally drag him into the garage to spend the night. 

Barely five minutes had passed before I heard the loud, wracking sobs. I knew before he came through the door what happened and fortunately, I was at the point I could leave what I was doing. Huge tears were rolling down Jacob's face as he told me what I already knew, Diesel got hit by a car. I grabbed my jacket and ran outside, expecting a furry body in the road. The man who hit him had pulled over and I ran down the driveway to him. I know he felt bad and I explained to him that Diesel was a stray we had felt sorry for, but if he ever got loose, the road was the first place he went. 

"I hit him pretty hard, got a little dent on my bumper. But he got up and took off," the man motioned in the direction of my house. 

It's been a long while now since Diesel ran away, and we still haven't seen him. I fear the worst. 

It's hard to offer solace to a child who is convinced his dog is gone forever, and "he's legs is hurt!" 

"Jacob, God made Diesel. He thought Diesel was very special, so we can pray for him and ask God to take care of him." And we did. 

Tonight a little boy went to bed without any trouble. The eternal optimist, he thinks Diesel will surely be home for breakfast. 

I'm trying not to think about our poor boy, cold and hurting. Instead I'm choosing to believe that God made Diesel, and He thinks he is very special. And maybe he found himself a nice, cozy sunny spot to curl up. And he got really sleepy in the fresh air and sunshine.  And I'll bet, his doggy heart felt very full of contentment because at last, he caught a car. 

Note: Diesel, if you want to come home for breakfast, we would love to have you back.