When I was very young, my grandfather, Joe Clemen, gave me a German Shepherd pup that I named Lassie. That dog and I grew up together. He was a good friend for a little boy and kept me out of a fair amount of trouble. Then one day I read a book about dogs and a bloodhound named Roger. Roger did all kinds of wonderful things. He tracked down criminals and escaped prisoners. He even tracked down lost children and saved their lives. He became for me the best dog that every lived. I began to pray every night before bed that I could have a dog just like Roger.

God never answered my prayers for a dog just like Roger. When I became older, I realized that God had answered my prayers before I even asked for a dog by having my grandfather give me a German Shepherd that was the best dog I could ever have. God knows what we need and gives it to us before we understand what we truly need. To accept how God showers His grace upon us is to give thanks and praise to God who loves us as a father.

Deacon Tom Bates