The only gift is a portion of thyself.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
Baby was a beautiful little boxer who lived with two larger dogs in Rodger and Margy’s backyard. Their house was vacant for the moment. Rodger and Margy were getting settled in a new city, and had left their dogs and kids behind temporarily. The children, Quentin and Dylan, were staying with grandparents who lived near their old house. The boys went back home every day to feed the dogs and play with them.
One day the bigger dogs got out of hand and treated Baby badly. When Quentin came to check on the dogs he found that Baby had been seriously injured and needed medical attention. He called his grandma, Darlene, who hurried to his side. Darlene fought back the tears as they gently wrapped Baby in a blanket and rushed her to the veterinarian’s office.
Baby’s compassionate vet examined her with knowledge and empathy. She needed lots of stitches and staples to put her back together. But unlike the famous nursery rhyme character Humpty Dumpty, there was more involved than repairing Baby’s outer “shell.” She had lost a great deal of blood—so much that the vet was concerned she might not make it through the night.
Rather than leaving her with the night staff and going home to a well-deserved rest, Baby’s vet went and fetched his own beloved yellow Lab, Jake. He extracted Jake’s blood and shared it with Baby. Without the extra platelets from Jake, Baby might have died. The assisting vet also stayed after hours with Baby and lovingly kept her covered with warm blankets, meeting her every need. This was necessary because Baby was in shock.
Baby’s human family was also in shock. They all loved Baby. Why, they wondered, would the other dogs treat her this way? The night was a long one for everybody. They prayed for Baby’s healing and that she would be relieved from all pain.
The next morning, Baby’s humans were anxious to see how she was doing, praying she was still alive. When they arrived at the vet’s office, they found a happy puppy standing by the door of her cage waiting for them. She was well on her way to recovery. The whole family was deeply grateful to the vet for his sacrificial gifts of love, time, and Jake’s platelets. Baby now lives a quiet life with one other—much calmer—little boxer.
Jake’s gift of blood gave Baby another chance at life. My gift of blood gave someone another chance too. I had never given blood before, but the son of my husband’s acquaintance was in a life-threatening circumstance. He needed surgery to live. His blood type was rare so they were asking anyone they knew to give blood if it matched his. Mine did, so I decided this was the time to share it. I went down to the blood bank and gave my blood for this young fellow. I never met him, but the surgery was a success and he recovered well. I’d always thought that giving blood was a huge sacrifice, but I realized it was a small sacrifice and a huge honor. I was glad to do it.
Jake and I gave blood rather painlessly and in sterile surroundings. We didn’t have to die to share it, either. That was not the case with God’s Son. Jesus was horribly and hatefully beaten, then hung on a cross to shed His blood and die for our sins so we could have eternal life. Thankfully, He didn’t stay dead. After three days He rose, just as He’d promised. He met with some of His followers and then went to heaven to prepare a place for all those who accept Him as their Savior.
Jake’s master gave his dog’s blood to save one boxer pup. I gave my blood to help save one man. Jesus gave His blood to save the world. If, like Baby, we receive the life-giving gift we’ve been offered, we will live in God’s presence forever!
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:27-28).
Have you ever given blood? What was it like for you? How did you feel about it? When did you last thank Jesus for giving His blood for you? Is there someone you’d like to tell about Jesus’s sacrifice so that they might have a chance at eternal life?