I’m one of those annoying people who are always trying to fix other people, things that don’t work as they should. If you want to know how to make things run smoothly, just go ask Michelle.

Yet I’m anything but an expert. 

I mess up a lot. Particularly when it comes to my own life. I worry, I fuss and I get nowhere.

And it’s usually because I failed to trust the three simple words of assurance that the Lord speaks to my heart when my world spins out of control.  

“I’ve got this.”  

A Facebook friend is heavily involved in animal rescue. She’s hooked up to a number of area “kill” shelters that run daily warnings of dogs and cats who face euthanasia if they aren’t fostered or rescued immediately. It breaks my heart to look into their eyes, some anxious, some despairing. I usually try to skip over them, knowing that there’s little that I can do for them. But I eventually back up, read their stories and shed tears, knowing some would take the one way path across the Rainbow Bridge.

A few weeks ago I fell in love with an eight year old beagle named "Bugsy" at Hillsborough County Animal Services. Eight years old is considered a senior pet, and his prospects weren’t good. People want puppies, or younger dogs. Yet, there was something about his face. For the first time, I felt that I had to do something.

Bugsy’s “due date” was on Easter.

I knew we shouldn’t take him. We have a nineteen pound cat named Simon who thinks every square inch of our home is his, and a his sister Maggie who is forever snatching his territory. I don’t think Bugsy would have been happy living with us. But if all else failed, I wasn’t going to let him die. We’d adopt him and everyone else on four legs would have to adapt.

Then the shelter extended Bugsy’s “due date” one week.

I prayed every time he popped into my mind. I had sticky notes on my desk that said “Bugsy”, reminding me to pray.

The answer was always the same.

"I've got this."

Three little words.

I should have listened.

Instead I did what I always did. I tried to fix things. I went on a crusade to save Bugsy’s life.

I phoned and emailed dog rescues, beagle rescues and posted him on my Facebook page.

Then I received a call from a woman with one of the beagle rescues telling me that Hillsborough County Animal Services was holding a big adoption fair at the shelter. And a staff member said that Bugsy was considered a good candidate for a new home.

A good candidate?

Let’s review. The dog was eight years old, was scheduled to be euthanized twice and he was suddenly a good candidate for adoption.  I was afraid to get my hopes up.

The Monday following the adoption fair I found out that Bugsy was adopted.

By a vet.

Bugsy was adopted by someone who would know how to care for a senior dog, and would have the resources to do so.

And Bugsy was renamed Chance, as that’s what his new owner had given him.

A second chance.

In spite of my phoning, emailing and worrying I couldn't have dreamed of a better ending to this story.

As always the Lord was true to his word.

He said “I’ve got this.”

And he did.

Michelle Close Mills©