Table of Contents
Morning Fright
Sometimes, the days that should end most beautifully start with a nightmare. That’s how it was last Tuesday, on my birthday.
Everything began innocuously. The morning walk with the dogs, the familiar routines. Lina, always eager to hunt, pulled impatiently on the leash. And then it happened: An unlucky moment, a clumsy movement with the gloves, and the leash slipped from my hand. It took less than a second for her to realize she was free. A brief glance – and Lina darted into the forest.
My heart stopped. It wasn’t supposed to happen, but unfortunately, it did. And I know Lina. When her hunting instinct kicks in, nothing holds her back. She goes FAR and STRAIGHT THROUGH. The hope of tracking her in the fresh snow vanished quickly. Too many other tracks, and I was too inexperienced in reading this white script.
Desperately, I sought help in the village. Although the neighbors were immediately willing to assist, there was nothing that could be done quickly with snowmobiles. One neighbor promptly set out on snowshoes and searched tirelessly for the next two hours. As I waited at home for Lina or any news, time slipped through my fingers. With each passing minute, the paralyzing fear in me grew (and it gets dark very early!). It was like a terrible déjà vu – I knew this gnawing feeling of helplessness all too well.
Then, in my greatest despair, I sank into myself at home. The tears came, and with them, a prayer. A helpless, honest call to God. Although my head was spinning with worry, I reached for the Bible. I could barely concentrate, flipped through it – and stopped at one place: the Parable of the Lost Sheep.
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18:12-14 (KJV)
Something inside me twitched. Did it feel like an answer? A call not to give up? About two and a half hours had already passed, but a new spark of hope was ignited. I decided to take my skis and start the search myself. I went outside, prepared myself, opened the binding – and when I looked up, there she was.
Lina. Soaking wet, but safe. With harness and leash, everything still attached. Apart from a few small scratches from the bushes, she was uninjured. The relief and gratitude that flooded over me in that moment are hard to put into words. It was as if she knew exactly when she needed to come home.
What began that day as a terrible déjà vu ended in an overwhelming experience of security. It was the same dog, the same situation – but I was not alone with my fear. This time it was different because, in my despair, I turned to the Lord Jesus. And He listened.
Lovely Conclusion
That evening, my birthday concluded beautifully at an international Christmas coffee event in the village, with enriching conversations and loving surprises I never expected. A day that began in chaos and fear turned into a day that showed me one thing: we have a God who hears and guides us in even the smallest details.
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This experience deeply touched me and strengthened my faith in a new way. If you would also like to learn more about my journey of faith or have any questions, please feel free to contact me! I look forward to connecting with you.