Hope Restored

by Irene Zundel

Old Homer Jones had been feeling useless and hopeless for over a decade now. It started when he had his first heart attack, and the company he gave thirty-five years of loyal service to, forced him into an early retirement.

Then came the arthritis, failing eyesight, and short bouts of forgetfulness. His grown children seemed to take every sign of the natural decline of aging as an opportunity to strip him of something that he loved and needed. His tools were taken away, and the beloved workshop where he tinkered for countless happy hours was padlocked. His driver’s license and car keys were forcibly surrendered. And then came the cruelest blow of all. His treasured wife of fifty years died from cancer. In this world, he had nothing and nobody left to care for or care about.

In his bitterness and grief, the poor, broken old man even turned his back on the Lord and his lifelong faith. “Why bother struggling to go on?” he thought.

Homer passed his declining years in virtual exile, in his once- beautiful home that was a mile from the outskirts of town. He and his wife had loved this picturesque, rural hamlet. They delighted in the wonderful people, beauties of nature and the good soil that made it possible for them to grow a prize-winning garden. But as life and circumstances beat Homer down, all that they loved and built together. fell into a state of disrepair and neglect.

He still followed his morning routine of getting the tiny, local paper, and reading it on the porch with a steamy cup of coffee, a piece of toast and a bite or two of fruit. But that once-loved ritual became just a hollow habit, after the passing of his wife. For the rest of the day, Homer would forget to eat, or scrape together a meal that barely kept together body and soul. He’d wander in the garden and sigh, or sit inside with the curtains drawn and mope. If Homer could have willed himself to die, I suppose he would have. At any rate, it seemed like he was trying to hasten the possibility of Death’s early arrival at his paint-chipped front door.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 116:

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

and in Ezekiel 18:31 & 32 He says:

Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!

Those words, however, were far from Homer’s mind as he wearily trudged through each seemingly endless day. Depression, and years of spiritual neglect had dulled his ability to remember the grace and mercy of the Savior.

Luckily for Homer, God watches over us all, and sees us in our time of despair. And just when we have had about all that we can bear, he sends us the help and encouragement we need.

In this case, help arrived on Homer’s front porch in the form of a crying little boy, carrying a whimpering, injured puppy.

“Mister, you just gotta help me!” blubbered the owner of that angelic, tear-soaked face. “I found this lost puppy the other day, when I was fishing at the creek. I brought her home, but my mama wouldn’t let me keep her. She told me to take the dog back to where I found her, because she probably had an owner that was looking for her. While I was carrying her down the road, she wriggled from my arms and got hit by a car. The driver just took off and left her lying there. I think her leg is broken!”

“Well,” scowled Homer, “what am I gonna do with a hurt, little puppy? I can barely look after myself in my old age!”

“Please, Sir,” pleaded the little boy, “she needs you!”

At that very moment, Homer’s heart melted. He said, “Son, I grew up on a farm, and my daddy taught me all about caring for sick and hurt animals. I imagine I can try to patch this one up, and find her a good home.”

“Thanks, Mister! What are you gonna name her?”

The old man thought a moment and replied, “I think I’ll name her Hope, cuz I hope I can fix her up as good as new.”

As the little boy wiped away his tears and happily bounded out of his driveway, Homer felt his heart become lighter than it had been in years.

The first couple of days after the accident were difficult for Hope. Homer wondered if she would live at all. But then she began to heal just fine, and grow stronger with every passing day. Her lively energy and sweet disposition brought new life and joy to the lonely old man. Before long, Hope became Homer’s constant and dear companion.

Every afternoon when Homer had a nap, and every evening at bedtime, Hope would cuddle up next to him on a big soft pillow and drift off into Dreamland. She never left his side, even when Homer would snore so loudly he would rattle the walls!

One afternoon Homer was feeling a bit anxious, dizzy, and nauseous when he went to lie down, and he had a mild discomfort in his left arm. Later, he broke out into a cold sweat, but didn’t wake up from his deep sleep.

Hope frantically licked his face, nudged his chest, and whimpered loudly. Over and over she would scratch at the covers and tug at his clothes. When Homer finally woke up, she bounded over to the telephone on the end table and knocked it down. When Homer bent down to pick it up, he realized he felt a squeezing sensation in his chest, and dialed 911.

“Dear God!” thought Homer, “I’m having a heart attack!”

The ambulance responded in less than two minutes, and soon he was being whisked away to the emergency room. When he told the attending physician what happened he replied,

“Mr. Jones, I don’t believe in accidents, or coincidence. It seems to me that God sent you a furry little angel! You saved her life, and now she has saved yours.

Recently medical science has discovered that chemical changes occur in the human body several hours before the onset of a heart attack. Dogs, with their sensitive noses, can smell when their owners are ill. I believe your dog could tell something was terribly wrong, and woke you up before a major heart attack occurred.

Studies have also shown that patients with companion animals recover from major illnesses and surgery faster than those who have no pets at home.

I am sure you will be fine in just a few days, if you put yourself in Hope’s capable paws!”

Homer thought long and hard about what the doctor told him. Could it really be true that God sent Hope into his life to give him a second chance?

A few days later, while Homer was eating breakfast on the porch, and reading the local paper, he came up with a fun idea. He made a big sign for his front yard that read:

FURRY ANGELS ANIMAL SHELTER
I cheerfully adopt all sick, abused, abandoned, lost and unwanted animals.

Before long, people were dropping off their cats and dogs, and all kinds of strays wandered into his yard. Homer joyfully welcomed each and every one, and lovingly groomed, fed and nursed each one back to health.

When a furry angel or two seemed ready to go to a new home, Homer would bring them to a nursing home, hospice, or community center that had a daycare program for the elderly. Sometimes he would bring them to the home of a shut-in, or to a lonely person who was grieving over the loss of their mate.

During each visit, Homer would tell the story of his years of despair, how God sent Hope to his front porch, and the day she saved his life. Inevitably, each person he visited would nod with understanding, and begin to share their own problems.

After a while, Homer would remark, “Say, it seems like this little furry angel has taken quite a shine to you! How about I leave him with you for a few days, and you can see how you get along? He sure makes for nice company.”

Inevitably, each person Homer visited would adopt a puppy or kitten, and a new and lasting friendship would be formed.

Just as God used Hope to restore Homer’s faith and gave him the will to go on, Homer used his little furry angel’s to give others hope as well.

Before he passed away and went on to his reward, Homer placed dozens of animals in new homes, and brightened the lives of countless people. And to think it all started with a whimpering puppy and the tear-stained face of a little boy!

It seems to me the Lord sends his angel’s in all kinds of clever disguises...

Scripture reference:

Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

Hebrews 13:2, New Living translation