Harmony scooped the dog up and buried her face in his short fur.

“It was good for him, too,” I told her. “You gave Muffin a purpose and the chance to be his own dog outside of the pack. I can see he loves you dearly.”

Harmony sniffed and wiped at another tear. This one was big and fat and raced quickly across the slope of her cheek.

“And I love him dearly. It’s funny…” She laughed here as if to prove her point. “At first I thought you two were crazy, throwing a dog at me the moment I hit town, but now I can see why you did. Loving this little guy opened my heart in a way I hadn’t been able to open it before.”

“And now you’re surrounded by all kinds of love,” I said, slapping Nolan on the shoulder. He and I both knew that it wouldn’t be long until he managed a proposal. Those two had loved each other first as friends, which made their bond that much stronger. They’d soon be ready to join their lives together under the Lord’s watchful protection.

She nodded. “I really am, and I have you to thank for setting it all into motion.”

I smiled a big ol’ grin. “Not me. The Lord working through me and Abigail and these wonderful, little dogs. And you, too.”

“It’s funny—once I turned eighteen I thought I’d never step foot in Charleston again, but even after all these years away, it’s never stopped being my home. It’s like my heart always knew where it belonged even when I didn’t.”

“God brought you back,” I told her. “He never gave up on you. He never gives up on any of us.”

“And neither does my dad,” Abigail added, offering me a quick peck on the cheek.

Harmony hugged us both, then reluctantly placed Muffin into my waiting arms. “I’m going to miss you, little guy,” she cooed. “But I know you’re ready to help somebody else now.”

And I knew it, too…

I couldn’t wait to see how the Lord would work His wonders through our beloved church dogs next.

Are you ready to find out who the Church Dogs help next? Carolina Brown had her whole life figured out, but then everything changed in an instant…

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What’s Next?

Carolina Brown couldn’t be more different than her mama if she tried—and truthfully, most of us believe she worked hard at precisely that. She worked hard at everything else, too, and set off to college to accomplish big things in the wide world. Unfortunately, God called her right back to Charleston when her mama suffered a near fatal accident that left her requiring round the clock care.