Quvenzhane Wallis stars in a scene with Sandy the dog from the movie "Annie." The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.(CNS photo/Barry Wetcher, Sony Pictures Entertainment) See MOVIE REVIEW Dec. 15, 2014.Tom Nogle | Special to The Michigan Catholic
For the past seven years I’ve walked my dog, Bailey, some 3-4 miles almost every day within a two-mile radius of our suburban home. We often see children. Bailey consistently tries to avoid them, often crossing the street. If they do approach to pet her, she cowers as if being punished.
A couple of years ago, about a mile from home on one of her regular routes, she turned left where she normally went right. That could have been my first clue that this day was special. A few houses later I saw two children in their back yard across the street, just kinda out there like they were looking for something to do. As I thought to myself “I hope they don’t run to pet Bailey”, SHE turned sharply and LED me across the street, right up to them and willingly let them hug and pet her. Now I knew this was special … but why?
Briefly talking with the children, I learned that their family dog had recently died.
I don’t know if those children got any message from God or even felt comforted by Bailey’s visit. But I know I got a message. I know that only He could have made Bailey do something she’d never done before, or since; something entirely opposite of her intuition (to avoid children). This was made to happen, not just a coincidence!
‘Signs and Wonders’ series
During the opening session of Synod 16, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron asked synod members to consider, among other things, the role “signs and wonders” might play in the work of evangelization. Biblically, the archbishop noted, such signs — which often came in the form of healings, answered prayers or simply graced occurrences — accompanied the proclamation of the Gospel by the first apostles.
To help the archbishop with his request, The Michigan Catholic reached out to ask its readers to tell us the “signs and wonders” in their own lives. Has your family been the recipient of an answered prayer? Do you know someone whom the Gospel has touched in a particularly powerful way?
Our hope is to encourage as many Catholics as possible to share their story as a way to “Unleash the Gospel” in 2017. As often as we can, we’ll feature a short story you’ve submitted. Send your story (preferably in 300 words or less) to [email protected] or The Michigan Catholic, 12 State St., Detroit, MI 48226. To read all the stories we’ve received, visit www.themichigancatholic.com/signsandwonders.
