The Red-Eyed Dog of Despair

From the time I was 12 years old I went with my mother to church. As I was growing up, I asked myself why my mother was always going to church. My life was very difficult and I used to wonder why I was born. The reason that I was not happy was because I had not repented of my sins and asked God to forgive me.

The time that my older brother disappeared from home was very difficult for me. I was left with my three younger brothers and my mother. My mother was very sick and was not able to do any work. I had to look for food for my brothers and my mother when I was so young. It was hard work, because I had to fetch water from the river and sell it to get money to buy food. I was selling twenty liters (over 5 gallons) for 5 shillings (almost 6 cents) to buy food for us. From the town to my home, I would travel twenty kilometers (about 12 ½ miles) on my bicycle. I got home when it was dark many times, with two kilograms (about 12 cups) of maize (dry corn). The bicycle used to have punctures many times.

One day, as I was on the way, I wondered, “What if I stay like this all my life?” On thinking that, I almost went crazy. I started to cross the road without any reason, not realizing that I was riding my bicycle. I stopped in the middle of the road without thinking, and all the vehicles stopped. After I crossed to the other side, it seemed that I saw a dog with red eyes following me and barking aloud. Although I didn’t know how to pray for myself, I said, “In the name of Jesus stop following me!” and it stopped. Because it was sent from the devil, it stopped when I said that. Then I thought, “How powerful the name of Jesus is!”

I went to church the following Sunday and asked God for forgiveness. After I realized the power of God in my heart, the Lord took away the problems that I had. From the time I believed, I have seen the way God loves and cares for His children. Now I am fourteen years old and if a temptation faces me, I remember a favorite verse which says, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice!”

—Zechariah, age 14 (Kenya)