Jack came into our lives quite unexpectedly. We were driving from Poole to Wadhurst to see Val’s sister, Monica. As so often happens, the car journey provided us with an opportunity to dream dreams together. A few weeks previously, some friends in the church had said to us: “you ought to get another dog”. We’d been sharing with them stories of our previous (six) Labradors, and confessing that life wasn’t the same without a canine friend at our feet.

Seven years previously, we’d had to re-home our two golden Labradors because of Nigel’s Pulmonary Sarcoidosis. Walking them was largely Nigel’s job, and he was finding it impossible because of his breathlessness. It was one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever had to make, but God was, as always, gracious and provided lovely homes for each of them. Wesley, by several years the younger of the two and bursting with boundless energy, went off to Norwich prison to retrain as a drugs sniffer dog. We will never forget the burly prison office who came to collect him, and Wes’s little face as he realised we weren’t coming with him. Jonah (so called because he was always going in the wrong direction) was taken in by a lovely Christian family in the Suffolk countryside. They remain dear friends and we always enjoy having them come to stay.

Back to Jack! Midway into our journey we began reflecting on the casual comment made by our friends a few weeks previously. Nigel’s breathing has been settled for several years and he can certainly manage an hour’s stroll on the flat. Well, to cut a long story short, by the time we arrived in East Sussex the decision had been made. More than that, we’d even chosen a name. Val had asked: “if we were to have a dog, what would you call him?” Nigel didn’t have any particular names, but Val’s tongue began to tingle in a most peculiar way. When Nigel asked “do you have a name?” And “Jack” just came tumbling out.

A few hours later, Nigel had located a beautiful chocolate Labrador who needed re-homing. It turned out to be a delightful Romanian family who had been told by their landlord that they would be evicted unless they parted with the puppy. Our visit to their home in Harlow turned out to be a ministry trip of it’s own. Jack (then called “Max”) had clearly been cherished and exceptionally well looked after. He was clearly Sorin’s dog, despite the fact that there were two lovely lads in the family. When it came to say goodbye, it was obvious that Sorin was finding the whole episode very upsetting. We promised to care for Jack and send photos.

So it was that we came into possession of a bundle of joy with his own European passport. Sorin’s father breeds pedigree labradors near Timisoara. Jack has made a deep impact on our lives already. He’s decided that Nigel is his master. The two of them go out around 6am for the first walk of the day. Needless to say, having a beautiful Labrador puppy in tow is an amazing conversation starter, and Nigel has really appreciated the opportunities God is giving. Aside from opportunities for the Gospel, Jack has brought an enormous amount of fun into our lives. We both love him very much, and find ourselves laughing out loud at his antics and cheeky character. He truly is a four-legged angel, and we thank God for him.