Josh loves to hunt birds and so we have two English Pointer hunting dogs. One of them is Molly, she is an awesome dog. We have had her for about 7 years. We got her from Josh's brother when she was 2 years old. He had trained her to be a champion bird hunting dog. So, she's somewhere in her 60's in dog years. She's had a hard running, bird pointing life. She's very good at hunting and is also a very sweet, loving dog. She truly is one of Josh's best friends, and my kids love her- especially Kale. He's a lot like Josh in every way and loves hunting too. Molly's had a limp for about a month and a half that we have been trying to fix, but just this last weekend Josh took her out hunting and she couldn't use either of her back legs. Her legs kept giving out and she'd collapse. Josh brought her home and we let her stay in the kitchen for the last few days until we could get her to the vet. Both of us felt the outcomes were not going to be good. She looked bad and acted like her hips were displaced. She'd hardly get up or move- which isn't like this breed of dog, they are very hyper and all over the place. The muscles in one of her legs had almost disappeared. My dad looked at her and agreed that she probably had a problem that most likely wasn't fixable. We prepped our kids a little that we might have to put her to sleep. We prayed for her when we blessed the food and at family prayer. I even prayed for her quite a bit on my own- not because I care a lot for her (I am not much of an animal person), but because I knew how sad Josh and Kale would be.
Today Josh was going to take Molly to the vet at lunch. I took the kids to drop them off for school and Kale wouldn't get out. It didn't take me long to realize he was crying. He said he didn't want to leave Molly. After several attempts to console him I took him home and told him he could watch Westerns and take care of Molly for the day while I taught preschool. It broke my heart to see his heart breaking. I tried to make him some breakfast and he refused to eat. He put Molly's blanket in front of the TV alongside a blanket and pillow he had for himself. At lunch time Josh and Kale came to the preschool to tell me the news. They both had smiles on their faces. Dr. Myers took x-rays and examined her. He said her hips looked great and it was both her knees that were bad. He gave her a Cortisone shot and said if that didn't fix it- he had a simple surgery he could do that would most likely work(only $900-ouch). How much is too much to spend on an animal- $ vs. broken hearts???
Anyways- tonight at dinner I asked our kids if any of them had prayed on their own for Molly. All of them did- I was touched that they prayed without me telling them too. Then Kale said, "Mom, I fasted for Molly today." He told me that was why he didn't eat breakfast and he didn't eat lunch either. I am so grateful for that glimpse of Kale- a glimpse of his heart, what he believes in, and that he has a testimony of fasting. A testimony of fasting that I didn't think he had, because only a month ago he chose not too fast, because he was "just too hungry." We talked for a quick minute about how Heavenly Father answered their prayers and how Kale's fasting had worked. I added at the end that we needed to keep praying that the shot would work- and Kale piped in that he knew I wanted the shot to work so we wouldn't have to pay for the surgery. Smart kid-- but really that is a valid reason to pray! Later, at family prayer we thanked Heavenly Father for answering our prayers for Molly.
I am so grateful that our family had a "Meaningful Moment." Even though it might cost a lot- the price tag is nothing in comparison to the testimony my kids have gained from it. I think Heavenly Father sends us these moments, because they are building blocks for my kids to place their house upon as they grow older. They need these moments, these experiences, to challenge and strengthen them while they are young. It is a time for them to test their knowledge of the gospel and faith, a time to prep them for the future when trials are much harder. Molly may not be completely healed and perhaps she may only live for a few more weeks or a few more years. But my kids will know that their prayers were answered at this moment in time- that Heavenly Father did hear them and was able to keep their dog alive for a bit longer. Their prayers may not always be answered in the future, but my kids will know that their Father in Heaven is there- that he is on the other side of that prayer listening.
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