Hello, this is pastor gary from first baptist church of laplata. Here’s one for all you animal lovers that will warm your hearts. Gus is a golden retriever poodle mix who lost his back leg to cancer in February. Prior to his surgery, Gus loved to swim in Minnesota’s St. Croix River; however after his surgery, his owners figured he would not be able to run or swim like before. On Easter Sunday, Gus jumped into the river and swam just as well as he had before. Little did his family know that Gus was on a mission: when he returned to shore, he had a baby river otter in his mouth that he had rescued. The baby otter was too young to be in the water yet, so no one knows how it got there. Gus seemed to know this, so he retrieved the otter, swam back to shore, and dropped it at his owner’s feet. The otter was almost gone, but due to Gus’ timely rescue, Minnesota wildlife officials say it will make it. This story illustrates multiple Christian themes such as overcoming difficulties, compassion, and salvation. Gus had a disability, but that did not stop him from serving others; Gus saw another in need and did something about it; Gus saved a another’s life. I John 3:16-17 says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God because He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso has this world’s good and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” Gus put his life on the line for the otter, and John writes that this is what we “otter” do for each other.
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