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)