Eternal Powers And Divine Understandings - Hendrix Has Been Called Home

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

• Romans‬ ‭1:20‬

Hendrix passed away last weekend.

I have spent the past few days grieving and trying to think about how I could properly memorialize one of my closest friends and personal heroes. Books could be written about this magnificent creation of God and the tribute would still fall short.

God sent this ministering spirit into my life at a time when a single father of teenage girls needed an assist on security. While I was nervous about coming home with any kind of pitbull mix, the daughter whose turn it was to pick aa personal sentinel knew Hendrix would be hers when she saw his photo online.

I knew he was coming home with us when I saw her looking into his eyes.

"My dog too" when we brought him home because I also was a teenager once.

Hendrix knew from puppyhood what his assignment was. Protection.

None of us had any idea what Hendrix would teach us over his seven years but he did it to completion and taught some of us lessons about protection that will echo an eternity.

They loved each other so much they couldn't take their eyes off of each other.

I always knew, whether I was home or away, that Hendrix was watching the roost and anybody coming to my home either had a giant friend or a giant problem to contend with.

This was a creature who saved some of our lives in ways we are aware of. He was the kind of creature that eliminated threats to some of us, likely saving lives in ways we may never became aware of.

God's hand was on Hendrix and he served the Father with zeal.

More than one of his family were blessed to behold and to benefit.

Wherever she went he watched out for her. She did the same for him over turbulent years of growing up and growing out. Through years of chaos and shifts in our family, Hendrix remained faithful to his duty to me to protect my daughter.

She did the same for him. Turns out he really was just her dog all along.

Hendrix spent years misunderstood and maligned by some. At a young age, he was attacked by other dogs which changed his nature towards other dogs. He became quite the force to manage and many dog owners would not have accepted the burden. Hendrix was blessed that the one he was assigned to protect took that responsibility as a reciprocal assignment.

Ths gentle beast was forced to violence multiple times in self defense and in protection of his family. He made great sacrifice in his life just to bear the stress of taking a walk where another such attack might present. His PTSD was a shared experience for some of us.

When God moved Hendrix for His purposes, He also protected Hendrix.

He was shielded from false witnesses as well as the masses that called for his destruction out of fear and ignorance. The burdens that Hendrix bore in his service as protector bore many fruitful lessons of both sacrifice and Spirit.

Wherever his companion took him to... Hendrix never lacked in Spirit.

As his backup-that-was-never-needed grandfather I will be eternally grateful to God for the presence that this creature of His was in my family's lives. The lessons that have been taught both by and through Hendrix will make 'legacy' and 'legend' accurate descriptors both in life and in rest.

Noble. Regal. Magnificent. Words we used just sitting around with our friend as he aged.

There really is no way to properly memorialize Hendrix. No way to make anybody understand the purposeful and effective ways that God used this well-prepared-ahead-of-time creature. I witnessed God's hand on Hendrix. The fruits of the lessons continue to grow so no way to tell his story... it simply isn't over yet.

I will miss my friend until I see him again in some restored form I don't yet comprehend. Until then, I will celebrate his being freed from his bondage of decay after a complete lifetime of doing God's will here on earth.

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

• Romans‬ ‭8:19-22‬‬‬

We will handle the groaning for a time, Hendrix. You enjoy some rest, old friend.

We will always remember your sacrifices. The ones we know of and the ones we suspect.

I will return here often to think of Hendrix and to leave some of the too many great photos of this animal in comments for others to enjoy.

We should all be as dedicated to each other and the Creator's will for our purpose as Hendrix was.

He was rewarded with a peaceful death after a violent life of faithful service.

As it is with many legends, understanding the true presence of Hendrix took looking into his eyes...

RIP, our "Friend to the end of the world."

Hendrix.

01/07/2015 - 07/27/2022

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
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Romans‬ ‭8:26-28‬