Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a very cute story.
Actually, what makes the story cute is Tink the service dog. If you think that’s an odd name for a canine companion, then you need to see a photo of this little fluff ball. She looks just like her name. She is the tiniest, cutest, sweetest little miniature Pomeranian you can imagine! Even though she is a canine companion, this pup is way, way too small to wear a service dog vest — I think she would float in it! So how did a tiny little miniature Pomeranian ever get recruited to be someone’s service dog? Well, then you need to meet her owner, Carmen Wood Thompson.
Carmen is a dear friend who lives in Tennessee. Some years ago she was sitting on a lawn mower — you know, a big mower cutting grass — on her father-in-law’s farm when suddenly a chain hidden in the grass got caught up in the motor underneath the mower. The chain was attached to a metal A-frame and before Carmen could stop the mower, this heavy A-frame came toppling over onto her, breaking her back. It was a terrible accident and it resulted in not only paralysis from Carmen’s waist on down; but it kick-started a long and difficult battle with physical pain. When I met this remarkable woman, I was so struck by her sweet, southern manner and beautiful smile. Carmen’s also pretty stylish, and has worked many years as an interior decorator. She has style and lots of it. Of course, Carmen and I have remained friends over the years because we both deal with pain sitting in our wheelchairs. Even though she has use of her hands, it doesn’t make her battle against pain any easier.
But I'll tell you something that does: It’s her little dog Tink. Carmen takes her everywhere. She even sits in a little carrying case that swings underneath her wheelchair. Carmen takes her out, sits her on her lap, and — voila — Tink may well be her best remedy for pain. Why? Well, you know how one of the best ways to deal with pain is to find a really, really good distraction? For Carmen, Tink is that distraction. You can’t help but smile around that dog! She is so cute, and whenever Carmen goes anywhere, little Tink is the topic of conversation. Not her wheelchair; not her physical discomfort; not her paralysis. People are immediately disarmed by this little pixie who just sits on Carmen’s lap and smiles. You know, people often train therapy pets to help others, but Tink is trained to provide therapy to Carmen, reminding her of God's tender loving care, for indeed, God cares for her and loves her far, far more than she could possibly love this amazing little Pomeranian. Carmen’s dog is a way of reminding her of I Peter chapter 5, verse 7 where we are told to cast all our anxieties on the Lord, because He cares for us.
Hey, you have got to see a picture of little Tink and Carmen; you must see for yourself how sweet this precious pup is. So go to my radio page today at joniandfriends.org and share the photo and story with your Facebook friends. And if you’d like to drop Carmen a line of encouragement on my radio page then by all means, do so (recently she underwent surgery to remove a lot of hardware in her back.) Finally, since Tink is a service dog, you may want to learn a few service dog manners — a few doggie do’s and don’ts to observe around service canines like Tink — so go to my radio page at joniandfriends.org where we’ve provided a download about all the different kinds of service dogs there are, as well as the manners we need to observe when they are working and helping people with disabilities. And while you’re there, enjoy that wonderful photo of little Tink and Carmen!
© Joni and Friends
Compliments of Joni and Friends
PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376