I rescue animals. Most I deliver to the local animal shelter, but few manage to find themselves living at
Willow Oak, my 16 acre farm, which is located just outside of Corinth, in rural Alcorn County, Mississippi. At
the time of this writing I have 11 dogs and 13 cats -- way more than most people, but I am able to provide
shelter, food, and veterinary care for them. And I provide love, just like they provide love for me. They
cannot live without me, and I cannot live without them.
But it hasn't always been that way. Yes, I have in recent times found myself sacrificing time, money, and
energy to save the lives and dignity of some of God's defenseless creatures, but there was a time when
this was not so. Although I never went out of my way to be cruel to an animal there was a time when I was
not nearly so considerate. The truth is that I do have some black spots on my record.
Fortunately, only a few black spots. Years ago when I was a young man I saw an ad in the paper for free
puppies. I picked up one of the pups from the owner and delivered it to a relative as a gift, but she didn't
want it. I was in my early 20's, and what did I know? So I found a friend who would take the puppy off my
hands. In time he and his family found that they couldn't care for it either, so the pup ended up back with
me. She was a sweet little thing. My recollection is that she was a shitzu-mix, and my friend and his family
had named her "Precious." Several years have passed, and I can barely recall much about the situation,
but I do recall that eventually the puppy got very sick. I recall a neighbor sending one of her children to my
house to tell me about the "sick" puppy hanging out in her yard. I went to retrieve it, and as I lifted little
Princess into my arms she weakly licked me on the arm. She was so sick she couldn't walk and could barely
lift her head. I returned home with her in my arms, and all I could think to do with her was to place her in
the garage with a bowl of water. She had not the strength to lift herself to even drink from the bowl, but I
exited the garage and closed the door. She was dead by the next morning.
Even though around 30 years has passed, I still can't get the image of that pup out of my mind, and no
matter how many animals I rescue and care for now I shall never make up for that one incident of cruelty
and neglect. For all the puppies and kitties that I have rescued from some unknown fate, I cannot erase
from my memory that one incident.
There was another such incident: A co-worker asked me if I would take a puppy off his hands. I did. I do
not recall the puppy's name, but he was a gorgeous little German Shepard mix. In time I found that he was
too much for me, so I drove around until I found a pack of dogs roaming the neighborhood. Then I did the
unthinkable: I let the pup out the car and drove off. I have no idea what became of him.
These images haunt me. These thoughts of mine, that I should be so cruel and neglectful grieve me
constantly. No matter how much money I spend on vet bills; no matter how much money I spend on dog
food and cat food; no matter what I do I can never make up for these past indiscretions.
I am a regular guy. I like to curse, smoke cigars, eat steak, watch football, chase women, show off. Of
course, at my age and in my health I no longer smoke cigars or eat steaks or chase women (I never manage
to catch them anyway), but I am a regular, normal guy. In other words, I don't think about much, except
myself. I recall back when I was less considerate of others. I was a bully among my peers. I think of a
young man to whom I was inconsiderate -- even downright cruel. For a period of time I lived to make his life
miserable. He was a weakling, and I was a man, and I was obligated to prove it to him every day. Several
years passed and I had the opportunity to revisit that young man. When I apologized for my previous
disposition toward him, his reply was: "Gee, I don't remember." He either genuinely did not recall, or he
was being far more considerate to me than I had been to him. Either way, among God's creatures he
proved himself to be much bigger and much better than I.
I do not know if there is a life after this one; but if there is, the one thing I want above all else is to get an
opportunity to apologize to Princess and the other puppy. I want to tell them that I am sorry for what I did,
and ask for their forgiveness. I imagine in my mind that if that opportunity presents itself, and that if I ever
do find myself apologizing to them that I shall hear something like, "Gee, I don't remember." And if and
when that happens, then among God's creatures, those two precious ones will have proved themselves to
be bigger and better than I.
I can never make up for my past indiscretions, and without a doubt there will be more, but at least I have
had an opportunity to commit some good works. I may not ever even the score, but at least I can score
some points for the good, and for that opportunity I am grateful.
I am truly thankful for second chances.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying,
Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee?
or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in?
or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison,
and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them,
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it
unto one of the least of these ...,
ye have done it unto me.
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Oak in my journal, or email me one of your own stories.
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