August 6, 2001
DOWN HOME:
Sometimes grace has a pointy nose and paws
___Matthew stole our hearts the first time we laid eyes on him.
___Well, that's not exactly true. Matthew stole Joanna's heart and mine, too, but not the girls'.
___Lindsay was only 4 at the time, and Molly was just 1. They nearly ascended intohysteria the first time they came in contact with Matthew.
MARV KNOX
Editor
___They feared dogs--any kind, any size--back then. But before long, Matthew had all of us wrapped around his pointy little nose.
___Matthew, a Yorkshire terrier, probably never weighed more than 7 pounds. Still, he romped to the aid of our friend Nancy as certainly as a St. Bernard ever rescued anybody in the Swiss Alps.
___Nancy suffered after her husband Don died. Leukemia took his earthly life, and the battle and loss left Nancy not only grieving, but also completely, utterly exhausted.
___We worried about her. Joanna convinced her to come over to our house for dinner every Tuesday night. Jo's mission was to put some meat on Nancy's skinny ribs before sorrow and loneliness ate her away.
___In an example of how a blessing can become a curse, Nancy lived in a big house she and Don built with their own hands. It overlooks a lovely Tennessee meadow, but it's isolated and quiet. Too quiet for a grieving widow.
___We wondered if we could shovel enough food, tell enough corny jokes, wipe enough tears and dispense enough hugs to keep Nancy afloat.
___And then she got Matthew.
___No matter how hard Nancy's friends had tried to help, Matthew dispensed medicine none of us could afford--perpetual presence and constant good cheer.
___I'll never forget the first time I watched Nancy and Matthew play fetch. That was the first time I saw a particular gleam in Nancy's eyes that still can bring tears to my own.
___Well, that was more than 13 years ago. Nancy regained her strength and zest for life. A few years ago, Nancy met, fell in love with and married Sam. And Matthew "adopted" Sam as a best buddy. The circle of life.
___Nancy called last week to tell us Matthew might not live through the night. He turned 14 last spring, and in "dog years" that's equal to 98. He's had a long and productive life.
___I'm sure many more significant events happened last week, but I'm telling you about Matthew because sometimes you have to stop and appreciate the truly great blessings God places in our lives. Like friendship that holds hands and walks through life's trials as well as triumphs. And faithful dogs who think home is the center of the universe. And unconditional love-- of friends and puppies--that gives us a glimpse of grace.
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