Sometimes God gives second chances...

I was driving home from my dad's late yesterday afternoon, and got caught up in traffic at the split that goes around Nashville. I finally made my way to the Shelby Ave exit, and as we were all creeping along, suddenly, just three cars in front of me, a car whipped around, hit the guardrail, hit a truck, flipped, and then skidded into the grassy area between the interstate and the exit ramp we were on. When the car came to a stop, a big black dog jumped out of the passenger window, and took off. Traffic simply went around what had just happened, and the first thing that crossed my mind was that this guy might be drunk and I didn't want to be involved. Plus, by the time the car had come to a stop, I was at the top of the exit ramp, and had no where to park and go help the man. I looked into the rear-view mirror and saw others stopping to help him, and suddenly I felt terrible. I'm a nurse. I should have stopped. I stop at little wrecks all the time, but I just didn't stop this time. The feelings of guilt were getting the best of me.... fast. As I turned right onto Shelby Ave, still creeping along with the traffic, I looked over to my right at the sidewalk, and there was the dog that had jumped out of the car. He was terrified and running away from the scene. I rolled down my window and whistled at him, thinking if he was friendly I could get him into my car and take him back to the scene and let the officers handle him. He wouldn't come near me. I pulled over into the right turn lane, and so did a lady in front of me. Together, with the help of another man who had stopped, we got the Rottweiler into the backseat of my car, and headed back to the scene. We parked, left the dog in the car and carefully crossed the exit ramp to get to where all the officers, EMTs and paramedics were. We told them what had happened with the dog, and that we had him. One of the officer's wives works at animal control, so he came and picked the dog up. I spoke with animal control last night and if the man does not recover (he had a seizure which caused the accident), the dog will be available for adoption in two weeks, otherwise, he will be put down. Harry the Rottweiler was the sweetest dog, and I have every intention of going to resuce him should his owner not come to claim him.

I believe the moral to this story, and the reason I wanted to share it, is because God wants us to do good and be an example of His love at every chance He gives us. Sometimes, however, we might be having a bad day, be in a negative mood, or, like me, simply miss our chance. But, God gave me a second chance to help someone and show the love of Christ. He brought that dog up that ramp and right beside my car so that I could help rescue the dog. If we are presented with a chance to show God's love, we should take it, even, and especially, if it's the second chance.