Alfie and Omega?

The one and only Alfie has been gone a few years now. He was a great pet and friend.

Alfie showed up at church one night. The adults were chatting after a pot luck supper. The kids were off in their own group. A stray dog visited the kids and, to make a long story short, after everyone had gone home there remained the pastor’s family and a white-haired pup, soon to be named Alfie.

My son (also my wife and I) loved that dog. As Alfie grew Paul learned wonderful lessons in responsibility. He fed Alfie twice a day, and faithfully walked him daily a mile or so. When our son went to college, it was my turn to learn those same lessons!

As we moved to new church assignments, my congregations got used to seeing pastor and large white dog on their daily walk. When Joy and I went on vacation, one of the teens in the church would care for our precious pet. I suspect Alfie was missed as much as Joy and I when we moved!

That sweet, well-mannered dog lived over fourteen years. Do I miss him? At times. Do I want another dog? No, definitely not. Our schedule now is unpredictable, and we would not be able to show a new pet the same love, love that enriched us as much as it did our pet.

God grants us special seasons in life that cannot be duplicated.

”To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1