Answered Prayer by Judy Lynch

Answered Prayer

by Judy Lynch

August 2003 Answered Prayer I acquired my dog, Hansel, when he was 1 1/2 years old. I truly believe that he was an answer to my prayers. He was just the kind of dog that I wanted and God knew what I needed. This is how he came to be my dog. I had wanted a dog for a while, but I worked long hours and didn't think it would fair to the dog. I also had allergies and was worried that I would get a dog, get attached and have trouble with my allergies. In my readings, I found that Miniature Schnauzers had fuzzy fur, sort of like poodles, which make them good with asthma and allergies. I had been getting some obscene phone calls (before caller ID) during the night. I suspected it was a guy that I had turned down his advances, but I wasn't sure. Then I got a call one evening when I was awake. That really disturbed me. I couldn't stop wondering if he knew me, did he know where I lived, was he watching me? I lived alone and I had never been afraid in my house, but now I was hearing things outside. At that time, I thought that I didn't want to be by myself. I needed someone with me. I decided to get a dog. Not so much for protection, but for companionship. That night I prayed for a special dog. I didn't really have time for a puppy. What I would like is a male Schnauzer about a year old. The next morning I thought I would start calling the animal shelters. But I didn't really believe I could find a purebred Schnauzer there. I was thinking in human terms, not God terms. The very first shelter I called the lady was a Schnauzer breeder! She did not have any Schnauzers at the shelter, but she knew someone who was looking for a home for a year old male Schnauzer! I went out to the lady's home in the country. She ran a dog grooming and boarding business. She had intended to show this purebred Schnauzer, but never had the time. She also owned several other dogs. He was bigger than I expected. His ears were not clipped and they stood straight up, except for a bend on the right ear tip. They were beautiful and I'm glad they weren't cut! He was very timid, as he had hardly been around anyone but this lady. But he seemed special and I took him home. He was so scared he shook in the kennel all the way home, as he had never been in a car! I gave him a new name, Hansel, to reflect his German heritage and to mark the beginning of his new life. He was also affectionately called "The Hans". He was well cared for, but he was not very socialized. He was not use to a leash. I would take him for "his daily drag" to the mailbox! He eventually got use to it, but he would freeze with fear when a car would zip by. After a while, he got accustom to cars too. He was so quiet and rarely barked. On our walks, he would whine when he saw other dogs. I taught him the command to "speak" when he would do this. Since he grew up around so many other dogs, he loved to meet them. When we saw kids in the neighborhood, I would make sure that his encounters were positive. He was very calm around them and he was like a natural with children! Eventually he became a friendly, outgoing, confident dog. He later became a therapy dog for children, but that's another story! In time, he learned to love getting the mail and going for walks and going for rides in the car. When I asked if he wanted to "get the mail?' he would do his "mail dance", twirling around with excitement to go out in the front yard. With the sound of my keys or leash, he get excited when he knew he'd get to go for a ride or walk. He would hold very still while I put his collar and leash on. When we would go for rides in the car, he got his "sea legs", learning to balance himself on turns. He would press his back into the seat and sit with his legs out to balance himself. I taught him to "wear" a seat belt by keeping the shoulder strap across his chest and under one leg! He could also hear the sound of the pantry or refrigerator opening from the bedroom. He'd come running, hoping to get a treat. He didn't know what to do with his toys. He would not play with them, play tug of war with me, or chase them when I threw them. He soon learned to play! My mother still remembers her first meeting with the new "grand dog". She brought him some gifts to welcome him, but he was so shy that he cowered under the coffee table. He apparently was not exposed to water much, as he never was a "water dog". It is also not typical of the breed. I took him tubing on the river once and he didn't like it much. He wouldn't willingly go into the lake, but he would race around with excitement afterwards. He didn't even like it when I was watering the garden. He'd stay far away. He would run to his bed when it was bath time. He never did learn to like the water. He taught me things too, like to pick my stuff up off the floor! He chewed up a shoe, a book, and the buttons off a shirt, among other things! I also learned to groom him. He taught me little lessons in trust, about unconditional love, enjoying the simple things in life, and forgiveness. They are not human, yet they bring out our own humanity, sometimes in ways other people cannot. Funny thing, after I adopted Hansel, I never got another obscene phone call! I lost him 4 months ago. He would have been 14 years old this month. I still miss him and think of him often. He was a gift from God and I felt blessed having him. I Chronicles 5:20 He answered their prayers, because they trusted in Him.

Comments would be appreciated by the author, Judy Lync