I remember the day we drove to Pennsylvania to pick up our beautiful white shepherd named Ella. My desire for a puppy was always there, but the timing never felt right. It was during the COVID pandemic that things changed, and it finally seemed like the perfect opportunity for a puppy. We thought not only would it be a great addition to our home, but it would give us something other than COVID to focus on. Although I wanted a small lapdog, Tom, my husband, and my then sixteen-year-old niece, Victoria, were insistent on getting a larger breed. I was outnumbered. So, I let Victoria take the lead in our search for our forever puppy. She chose the breed, found the breeder, and named her Ella, short for Cinderella.

Victoria located a breeder in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, that had nine-week-old white shepherds. It was a hot Saturday morning in August when Tom and I hit the road and headed to Lancaster County. As we neared the breeder’s farm, I began to feel anxious. I could feel my heart racing, and I was breathing heavily. Although the scenery was breathtaking, with rolling hills, lush greenery, and open space, I could not appreciate the picture-perfect beauty. I was too occupied thinking about the life-changing decision I was about to make. My anxiety intensified when we were on the farm and I saw three large shepherds, one of them white like Ella, confined to a small area. They barked at us as we drove past, baring their teeth. I must admit, seeing that was not very comforting, especially since I was about to get a puppy that would grow to that size and might behave similarly. I was starting to doubt my decision. Was it still possible to back out? How would Tom feel if I told him that we just drove two hours for nothing? And then there was Victoria- how disappointed would she be?

As we stepped out of our car, the breeder’s wife greeted us. We chatted for a few minutes, and then she disappeared, returning with two adorable puppies. Any hesitation or anxiety I had felt earlier melted away as she gave me the puppies to hold. They were full of playful energy. These were the last two siblings in the litter, as the other four had already found their homes. Initially, neither puppy stood out to me. They appeared almost identical. Then, one of them stumbled while playing. Though the puppy didn’t cry, it appeared to have injured its leg. It started limping and wasn’t as playful anymore. The limping puppy ultimately helped make my decision on which one to take home. The choice was clear: I wanted to start my dog ownership with a healthy puppy. While Tom chatted with the breeder’s wife, I kept my eyes focused on the healthy puppy. I wanted to make sure we didn’t accidentally take home the injured one. Ironically, just a few days after bringing Ella home, we ended up visiting the veterinary hospital because she had severe gastrointestinal issues. After that, it took two additional visits before she felt better. So much for starting my dog ownership without excessive veterinary bills!

As I reflect on the way I chose Ella, I am deeply grateful that God didn’t use the same standards that I applied when He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for me. My standard for choosing Ella was perfection. She had to be healthy, and absolutely no injuries. Yet God’s standard was just the opposite..

The Bible says in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Christ died for me even though my life was a complete mess. I was far from perfect. Yet being perfect or having it all together wasn’t a requirement for His acceptance of me. Instead, He wanted me to come to Him in humility, admitting that I am a sinner, in need of a Savior. Once I did that, He began the work of cleaning me up. Now God sees me as His perfect child, not because of anything I did, but because of what Jesus did for me at the cross. I am chosen, forgiven, accepted, justified…I am the daughter of the King. Now, that is true acceptance!

Want to learn more about a relationship with Jesus? Please get in touch with me by clicking the link below.

Check out the link “My Dog Mom Toolkit” below. It features products that have helped me care for Ella over the years.