I also posted this in the Anything & Everything part of the forum but I know some folks don't always venture into many of the different sections which is why I'm posting it here.
My Dad read this to me last night and it warmed my heart. I feel the same as the 'old man' in this story. If my dog can't go into Heaven with me... then I'll go where she's welcome.
My dog is my buddy
By DR. CHARLES M. WOOD II, Guest Columnist
An old man and his dog were walking down this dirt road with fences on both sides. They came to a gate in the fence and looked in, it was nice ... grassy, woody areas ... just what a “huntin#%92 dog and old man would like, but it had a sign saying “No Trespassing” so they walked on it.
They came to a beautiful gate with an angel in a white robe standing there. “Welcome to Heaven” the angel said.
The old man was happy and started in with his dog following him. The angel stopped him.
“Dogs aren#%92t allowed, I#%92m sorry but he can#%92t come with you.”
“What kind of Heaven won#%92t allow dogs? If he can#%92t come in, then I will stay out with him. He#%92s been my faithful companion all his life, I can#%92t desert him now,” said the old man.
“Suit yourself, but I have to warn you, the Devil#%92s on this road and he#%92ll try to sweet talk you into his area. He#%92ll promise you anything, but the dog can#%92t go there either. If you won#%92t leave the dog, you#%92ll spend Eternity on this road,” replied the angel.
So the old man and dog went on.
They came to a rundown fence with a gap in it, no gate, just a hole. Another old man was inside.
“Scuse me Sir, my dog and I are getting mighty tired, mind if we come in and sit in the shade awhile?” said the old man.
“Of course, there#%92s some cold water under that tree over there. Make yourselves comfortable,” replied the other old man.
“You#%92re sure my dog can come in? The man down the road said dogs weren#%92t allowed anywhere.”
“Would you come in if you had to leave the dog?”
“No sir, that#%92s why I didn#%92t go to Heaven, he said the dog couldn#%92t come in. We#%92ll be spending Eternity on this road and a glass of cold water and some shade would be mighty fine right about now. But, I won#%92t come in if my buddy here can#%92t come too, and that#%92s final,” said the old man.
The other old man smiled a big smile and said, “Welcome to Heaven.”
“You mean this heaven? Dogs ARE allowed? How come that angel down the road said they weren#%92t?” asked the old man.
“That was the Devil and he gets all the people who are willing to give up a life-long companion for a comfortable place to stay. They soon find out their mistake, but by then, it#%92s too late. The dogs come here; the fickle people stay there. GOD wouldn#%92t allow dogs to be banned from Heaven. After all, GOD created them to be man#%92s companion in life, why would he separate them in death?” stated the other old man.
Many a child has often wondered about where his pet has gone. This simple story by Earl Hammer has answered that question. God is God over all his creatures ... not just some. If God has watched over the sparrows while they were on earth, why do you think He would forget about them when they died. GOD has prepared all of us a place in His New Kingdom.
Dr. Charles M. Wood, II is the pastor of The Christian Church in Logan, and an accomplished instructor of psychology and religion at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College. He is a Christian counselor in Logan - serving, ministering, and donating his time to people from all denominations.