So I call my beloved Patches the Turkey Thief because of the time he stole a turkey at Christmas some years ago. In my mind, the image of Patches dancing with that turkey as he gobbled it up, is forever etched. He has twice now stolen chocolate cake- the first time he ate enough cake for 30 people and the second was over Christmas 2018 when he quickly swallowed three chocolate cupcakes, paper cups and all! He was swift and sure. His actions precise and clinical. Nothing was wasted! No evidence left. Both times when he stole chocolate cake, the panic that rose in me was phenomenal. Dogs aren’t supposed to be able to process cocoa and get really ill. The first time, he spent the whole night smacking his lips rather loudly and last Christmas, he snoozed very contentedly in a corner, blissfully unaware of the stress he had caused. Sometimes I want to strangle the Turkey Thief!
I complain about his silliness and call him a spoilt brat! But how I love his gentle face and expressive eyes. I would miss him unbearably should anything happen to him. Something almost did happen too.
In October 2017, my darling Patches was taken ill. To keep a long story short, he almost died because a tumour in his liver burst. He had to have massive surgery and was very fortunate to have survived. I think the entire time he was in hospital, I had the song “Bring Him Home” in my head. In Les Miserables, Jean Valjean sings it with such desperation and this marked the mood and nature of my prayers that entire time.
I was teary at best and in those dark days, I remember the sobbing. I don’t always cry and am somewhat a master at suppressing my feelings. Yet, this four-legged, tail wagging, food gobbling creature had me all knotted up. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him. It was hard enough leaving him in hospital after visiting hours ended, not to mention taking him up to the operation theatre to leave him looking at me with eyes wild with fear when I wasn’t allowed past a certain point. It was terrible indeed.
And yet, God must be praised. God must be praised for several things. The biggest thing for me is the success of the surgery and how the septicaemia was fought off. That alone should have killed him. It wouldn’t have been possible without the Creator, who made all things for His glory. As if that wasn’t enough, there was another incredible blessing: friends. Patches and I have been blessed with such amazing friends. I was ready to quit my job to be able to sit with Patches but we had a friend come spend time with him in hospital for the few hours when I wasn’t there. Then there were the other friends who came to visit and sit with me while I sat with Patches in hospital. The comfort they brought us both is undeniable. The costs of the operation were quite high. I wasn’t expecting this next bit. A dear friend, whose dog has been one of Patches’ long time friends, passed the hat around to our mutual friends. So many chipped in to help me cover costs. It was mind blowing. It was overwhelming. It touched me to the core and I shall never forget the kindness of these souls. I shall never forget how they stood united in my grief at a time of difficulty. I haven’t been able to write about this sooner because all of you really overwhelmed my senses.
This only strengthens my faith in God’s Providence. He sent a material blessing and also intangible blessings of support and comfort. I know that to a lot of people, so much fuss over a dog would just be lost. So my amazing God kept those people at bay and brought me and Patches the ones who didn’t judge or minimise our trial, even if they didn’t necessarily relate to it. He brought us the ones who stood in solidarity with us in a way that I cannot stop thanking Him for. To each of these friends – you know who you are. Please know that my gratitude runs deep for your presence and generosity.
The healing took a while. It took 10 months to be exact. The Turkey Thief seemed to have retired from his life of crime at this time. Slowly but surely the Turkey Thief regained his strength. Now he’s back to doing twirls as he jumps when he’s terribly excited; chasing after cats; trying to catch birds, rats and squirrels; smelling the flowers wherever he goes; imitating a vacuum cleaner when he eats – it is quite an impressive feat; and scavenging – he is forever scavenging because he leads a hard life and has only scraps for food …not! The mischief has returned. There are bouts of disobedience and cuteness that I cannot always successfully distinguish! My Turkey Thief is back and he’s loving life. Crime still pays handsomely, as does just turning up wagging his tail and looking positively silly!
Watching him and thinking back on the whole experience that we went through- including the phenomenal support we received, I cannot help but wonder at God’s design for community. This was one wonderful example of how a community of friends displayed His glory through their generous and loving acts. It was such a diverse group of people who banded together in unstructured and unplanned fashion. They didn’t all know each other either. The precision of each message, phone call, visits and financial help is beyond my imagination. When I think back on this, I am humbled and remember His words that His grace is sufficient for me.
As for my darling Patches, who as I write, is curled up against me in a ball, snoring blissfully (again!). You, my little creature, are growing older, as am I. You’ve seen sickness and have had to battle for your life. I’m seeing illness too, though thankfully not life threatening. You’re enjoying the days we lie in bed longer in the mornings and it’s harder to get you to simply chase after just about anything as you once did before. I’m letting go too. God is definitely using you to teach me things! The care He has for you makes me marvel and reminds me of how He cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. So – through this, I am reminded of His care for me, which in this instance, when you almost died, the care was through such a diverse community of people. Ultimately His provision for me of the gift of salvation that I don’t deserve. Another overwhelming blessing. I am so grateful to be on this journey with you, my darling Turkey Thief. I love you so much, Patches and thank God for bringing you into my life but… go near chocolate cake again and it’s a sure smack!
Grace for the soul 
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