My name is Jamie.
My mom and I live next door to the Blues.
Mr.
Blue is the pastor of our church.
Rufus is a member of the Blue's family.
Rufus was adopted by the Blue's as a puppy and came along when they moved to our town about three years ago.
Mr.
and Mrs.
Blue let me come over to play with Rufus every day after school.
I look forward to taking Rufus out for his daily walk.
We meet so many people --and many dogs and cats, too! One day as we were walking down the sidewalk toward the corner QuikMart, we saw Mr.
Timlin running out of his store.
He was yelling and chasing some boys.
Mr.
Timlin followed as they ran into the street and to the other side.
As Mr.
Timlin chased them, he stumbled as his foot got caught in a pothole.
Before he could get up a car turned the corner and headed right toward him! Immediately Rufus darted to the rescue.
He yanked the leash out of my hand and quickly ran over to Mr.
Timlin who was still lying on the ground.
Rufus began to bark loudly to warn the driver of the car.
When the driver saw Rufus, she immediately hit the brakes.
She stopped just in time, a few yards short of Mr.
Timlin.
Everyone in our neighborhood knew Mr.
Timlin.
For years he had owned the local butcher shop.
As bigger supermarkets came into town, Mr.
Timlin remodeled his little store into a QuikMart.
The changes were not so easy for him.
He missed selling his meat to all the people in our neighborhood.
Now he is selling milk, bread and candy.
His customers used to stay and talk with Mr.
Timlin.
Now when they come into his store they are usually in a hurry.
To make matters worse, Mr.
Timlin's wife died a couple years ago.
Mr.
Timlin has just not been the same ever since.
A year ago, I came into the store with Rufus.
Mr.
Timlin chased us out.
He said no dogs were allowed.
Before that, I would bring in Rufus all the time.
I wasn't very happy with Mr.
Timlin after that incident.
My mom told me that I should forgive him, but it wasn't easy.
Mr.
Timlin also had arguments with other customers.
Mr.
Timlin said that Mr.
Reyes' son, Brandon, stole candy from his store.
Mr.
Timlin and Mr.
Reyes have not spoken to each other ever since.
Mr.
Timlin even stopped coming to church.
Pastor Blue tried to speak with him-but he wouldn't listen.
He became very grumpy.
Some of the kids are afraid of him.
Some adults will not shop at his store any more.
Every time I come into his store he says, "Now don't bring that dog into the store!" I guess he just doesn't like dogs either! Now I felt bad that Mr.
Timlin was hurt.
The car did not hit him, but he hurt his ankle.
Before long an ambulance had come to take Mr.
Timlin to the hospital.
Many people had gathered to watch as he was helped by the paramedics.
After the ambulance left, we went back to the Blue's house and I told them what had happened.
"It looks like Rufus is a hero," said Pastor Blue as he gave him a dog treat.
"I think Rufus and I will have to pay a visit to Mr.
Timlin.
" "I do not think Mr.
Timlin likes dogs," Jamie said to Pastor Blue.
"He always warns me not to bring Rufus into his store.
" "Maybe he will feel differently this time," said Pastor Blue.
"Jamie, even though Mr.
Timlin chased Rufus out of his store, it did not stop Rufus from running to Mr.
Timlin's rescue.
Dogs can be a lot more forgiving than human beings.
When we feel hurt, we often hold a grudge.
When Rufus saw that Mr.
Timlin was in trouble, he just ran to his aid.
He didn't hold a grudge against him.
" Jamie thought a lot about what Pastor Blue had said, but was not sure if she could forgive as easily as Rufus had.
The next Sunday in church, everyone was amazed to see Mr.
Timlin walk in.
He had a cast on his ankle and was using crutches.
He began to greet some church members and tell them what had happened - how Rufus had saved his life and his soul! He talked to Mr.
Reyes, saying that if Rufus could forgive him, then he could forgive, too! He only hoped that Mr.
Reyes would do the same toward him! In his sermon, Pastor Blue talked about forgiveness, reminding us what God says: "...
if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
" Matthew 6:14