Stop Tiger!

Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.

CINDY, A LONGTIME VOLUNTEER at an animal shelter, had just started her shift when the manager asked her to take the short, stocky dog for a walk.

“Of course,” Cindy said, grabbing a collar and leash. “I haven’t really met Tiger, so it will be a perfect way for us to get acquainted.” The shelter was in a strip mall, located not far from railroad tracks. Cindy and Tiger headed to a grassy area in the direction of the train tracks.

Suddenly, the blaring whistle of the train startled both of them, and Tiger began frantically thrashing, backing away from the noise.

Before Cindy could react, Tiger had slipped out of his collar.

Cindy stood frozen, a leash and empty collar dangling from her hand. Tiger stared back at her, not realizing he was free from her control.

“Tiger . . . stay,” she said slowly and assertively, attempting not to show her rising panic.

The dog shook his head, then turned around and began running back the way they had come.

“Tiger, stop!” Cindy screamed, trying to close the gap between them. How can those little legs run so fast?

“Tiger!” she yelled again.

Miraculously the dog headed right back to the strip mall, but when Tiger reached the entrance of a toy store, the automatic doors opened and he darted right in.

“I am so getting fired,” Cindy muttered, following him inside.

Like a drill sergeant, she began shouting orders to everyone she saw.

“There’s a loose dog in here. His name is Tiger. Help me get him!”

She pointed to one person. “You! Block that aisle.”

Then another. “You! Head over there.”

Then she saw Tiger dash around a corner. “Here, Tiger. Come here, boy.”

A group of animated children and their parents gathered around her in the aisle. “You distract him, and I’ll grab him,” Cindy instructed.

Within minutes Cindy had a line of children following her. Great! She could already envision the headlines the next morning: “Hysterical Pied Piper Chases Runaway Dog through Toy Store.”

With a roundup crew of store employees, confused parents, and excited children, Cindy made her move. Thankfully, Tiger had worn himself out and had collapsed near the stuffed animals. But as if preparing to wrestle a crocodile, Cindy felt adrenaline take over as she threw herself on top of the overweight, exhausted dog.

“You got him! You got Tiger!” a chorus of children shouted while adults clapped and cheered. Everyone crowded around Tiger and Cindy.

“Thanks, everyone. You were such a big help,” Cindy said with a smile as the children got down on the floor by Tiger.

They eagerly petted him, rubbed his belly, and scratched his ears.

After putting Tiger’s collar back on and making sure it was securely buckled, Cindy attached the leash and led the heavily panting dog out of the store.

“There you are!” Lisa, the manager of the animal shelter, said as Cindy and Tiger entered the lobby. “I was starting to get worried about you two.”

As Cindy filled Lisa in on Tiger’s adventurous game of chase, the manager’s eyes widened.

“Cindy, did anyone tell you why Tiger was surrendered to us two days ago?”

Cindy shook her head.

“He bit a child.”

Cindy stared at her for a moment. She looked from Lisa to the dog to the door she had just walked through.

Cindy sputtered her response, struggling to get any words to come out. “So . . . um . . . what you’re saying is that I let a child-biting dog into a toy store full of children? And then asked those children to help me catch the dog?”

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Cindy was ready to face the music. “I am so fired, aren’t I?”

“Well, your adventure with Tiger had a happy and bite-free ending,” Lisa said, and both of them burst out laughing with relief.

“You’re a volunteer, remember? I can’t fire you,” Lisa said. “But perhaps it would be best if someone else walks Tiger from now on.”

“Absolutely!” Cindy agreed. “Tiger, it was nice to meet you, but let’s never do this again, okay?”

The two women laughed all the way to Tiger’s kennel. His great adventure ended with him curling up in the corner and falling fast asleep.

PAWS & PONDER . . .

Thankfully, Tiger kept his mouth shut while he was in the toy store. And while most people don’t bite others with their teeth, our mouths can still wound others. Have you ever gotten into trouble because of something you said? How might things have turned out differently if you had kept your mouth shut? The next time you feel yourself tempted to blurt out something you know you shouldn’t, run your words by God first and ask him if you should say them.

Paws & Pray

Lord, my words can get me into so much trouble. Help me not only to think before I speak, but also to think of you before I speak. Bring to mind any hurtful words I’ve said recently so that I can confess them to you and be forgiven. And help me to speak words that will make a difference in someone’s life.