A Dog Named Cool Whip

A Dog Named Cool Whip

The LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with Moses, and the LORD called out his name: the LORD.

Exodus 34:5 (NCV)

All right,” his mother said, relenting. “You can keep a puppy. But just one.”

A litter of seven small puppies nuzzled next to their mother, Duchess, a registered gold-and-white collie. Duchess had been bred so that the family would benefit from the extra money the puppies would bring. Eleven-year-old Ryan protested as soon as he saw the newborn creatures.

“You can’t sell them! You just can’t,” he protested.

Even though the puppies would go to good homes, it would indeed be hard to let them go. Ryan was close to tears, and so his mother’s heart softened. She finally agreed to let him keep one of the puppies as his very own.

Kneeling next to Duchess, Ryan cupped one of the small animals in his hands. Duchess allowed him to hold each one until he decided which he would keep.

“This is the one,” he said, holding a fine male with the same beautiful coloring as Duchess.

Ryan’s mother agreed that this puppy would not be sold and would belong to Ryan. “What about a name?” she asked.

Without hesitation Ryan replied, “Cool Whip. I am going to call him Cool Whip!”

A smile on her lips, his mother had to ask the obvious question: “Why would you name a dog Cool Whip?”

“Because,” Ryan answered calmly, “I’ve always wanted a dog that had his name on his bowl!”

Ryan was right—calling people, animals, and other things by their correct names is very important.

—Cathy Phillips

O Lord, your name is the greatest name of all, and I want my words and my life to bring honor and praise to your holy name. Help me, Lord, to remember to call things that you do in my life by the right name—not coincidence or fate, but blessings from your hand. Amen.