Our dog Jack is a faithful pal and tag-along buddy. After choosing him out of a group of shelter dogs, we’ve enjoyed his placid personality and gentle ways for eight years. When Nate died, Jack seemed to understand our grief, especially mine, and stayed close throughout each day.

I know dogs don’t live long, especially 80-pounders, but I’ve had a serious chat with Jack, letting him know he’s got to be above average on this. That means no running off, no risky behavior, no unhealthy eating.

And he promised.

But today Jack took a chance. While my nephew-in-law did some carpentry at the house, I set off on five errands, leaving Jack to take a nap and then watch Drew work. On errand #3, Drew called. “Jack ran off, and I don’t know where. I was using the nail gun, and he didn’t like it. He started throwing himself at the door trying to get out, so I let him out, but he took off.”

Jack has never been spooked by thunder, fireworks or the vacuum. I couldn’t imagine him being afraid of the nail gun. He’s also spent lots of time outdoors without me and has always hung around the yard. But since he and I usually run errands together, maybe he’d gone to find me. This was worrisome, since we’re not far from a four-lane, 65 mph road.

Drew said he’d go looking for him, and I called off my errands to drive the 25 minutes home. Fifteen minutes later my phone rang again. “I found him. He was sitting at the gate [to the neighborhood], waiting for you,” Drew said.

Never had Jack done this. How did he even know where the invisible line was between our subdivision and the rest of the world? He must have watched as he and I had driven out the gate before and knew it was my only way back in.

I know Jack is “just a dog” and won’t always be with me. But God has used him as my companion of blessing during these days of missing Nate. Eight years ago, the Lord saw me as the widow I am today and led us to that last cage at the shelter. It was God who caused Jack to sit quietly while the other dogs jumped and barked, which was what won us over. Part of God’s long-range preparational plan was to put this furry friend into my life back then, for now.

When we trust God, no life situation comes without him having first prepared us. This goes for even the traumatic stuff: divorce, accidents, disease, abandonment, death. When we feel we’re falling, we should never panic, because God has readied our soft place to land.

It was probably divine direction that caused Jack to run toward the highway today yet plant himself at the gate. It was the Lord who preserved my buddy, at least for now. And when Jack’s last day does arrive, I’m confident God will have prepared me for that, too.

“You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster for the Lord is your security.” (Proverbs 3:24-26)

My five grandchildren – Skylar, Micah, Nicholas, Evelyn and Thomas – are blessed beyond what they’re yet able to understand. They have parents and grandparents who love them without conditions, and even better than that, who bring their Christian heritage to bear on their lives, praying for them and teaching them of God’s love.

Whenever I visit my three British grandbabies, their other grandma, Sarah, and I have been in charge of our little people for a day, enjoying each other’s company in the process. We’ve been “Team Gran England.”

Today my other co-grandma, Terry, and I had the fun of “Team Gran Florida.”

Although Sarah and Terry are in the same age bracket, I’m nearly 15 years older than both of them. But I have five extremely important things in common with these two women: my precious grandchildren.

Just as a wedding brings the bride’s and groom’s parents together in otherwise unlikely relationships, grandchildren bring co-grandparents together in the same unique way. When these relationships are harmonious, the grandchildren reap great benefits. But they aren’t the only ones.

Today as Terry and I played and worked with Skylar and Micah, we enjoyed each others company as much as we took pleasure in our shared little ones. Between “let’s make a sand castle” and “now it’s lunch time,” we snatched moments of catch-up conversation and exchanged new information about each others lives. Getting to know my co-grandmas better each time we’re together is one of the joyful perks of grandmothering.

There’s a second important benefit in being partnered with a compatible co-grandma. Because both Terry and Sarah have close relationships with Jesus Christ, they’re reminding the children (as I am) that God loves them and is watching over them, that he has good things planned for their lives and wants what’s best for them. They’re highlighting each child’s uniqueness and are crediting the Lord with creating them as one-of-a-kind individuals.

All three of us are giving the same messages, which avoids confusion. Although the children will eventually make their own choices to follow Christ or not, at least while they’re young, they’ll hear us all speaking in one accord.

And there’s a third reason why I’m very grateful for Terry and Sarah. I’m the only one of us who lives far from her grandchildren. Although I could become despondent over the thousands of miles between us, I don’t stress about it for one reason. These two energetic, child-loving women, “Grammy” and “Gandy”, each do enough hands-on grandmothering for two women: themselves and “Grandma Midgee!”

And so it’s not just the children who receive bunches of benefits when co-grandmothers are compatible. The blessing spreads across many miles to encourage the long-distance grandma, too.

“Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.” (Psalm 71:18)

Tonight my sister asked if I’d be willing to write her blog.  I am honored, however, I’m not sure it’s a good idea. She’s the writer in the family, not me.  But what can I say?  She said I could write about absolutely anything, and as I sit pondering my options, all I can think of is her.  So here we go.

To coin her words, God was good to me on August 8, 1945 when he gave me my very own sister.  And he was good to allow us to stay together through the years.  He was good to let us live in close proximity to each other, and he was especially good to send us each seven children who we raised together.  You might say we have done life together, right from the very beginning, and it’s been good.

Even though we divided the room we shared as children with a good strong chalk line that kept one out of the other’s space, today things are good, and I don’t know what I’d do without her.  She is my confidant, my encourager, my example and my hero. She is a good sister, the best.

As you faithful blog readers know, the last year and a half have been heart wrenching for her, and though she misses Nate terribly, she hasn’t slipped into self pity and despair.  She told me, with God’s good help, she chooses to focus on the things she has in her life versus what she doesn’t have.  Over a good many years, I’ve become good at observing her, as well as being on the receiving end of the good she does, and I can say wholeheartedly this is true.  Even in her grief, she continues to make good investments in the lives of others through faithful prayer,  encouragement and good deeds.

Tonight, as I arrived in Michigan, good and tired, I was concerned about the pile of snow I’d have to shovel off the driveway.  But I should’ve known better.  Margaret and her good son Klaus had already been there, anticipating need and doing the mighty job of snow removal. You guessed it, the driveway looked good!

And now, as I sit in Marni’s good warm living room, typing away on her computer, which by the way is working good, I am overwhelmed by God’s goodness to me. As his Word says, “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows.” I thank him for my sister, who is good and perfect for me, evidence of God’s grace and one of his greatest gifts.   Truly, God was especially good August 8, 1945 and I am blessed.

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers (sisters) live together in unity…for there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”  Psalm 133