Bogie, my Dalmatian, was still a puppy when I discovered he could tell time.

One day, around quarter till six in the afternoon, he picked up the toy he had been chewing on and carried it into the living room. There he parked himself by the front door and waited.

Moments later, my husband, Robert, pulled into the driveway, his work over for the day.

This began a routine that would last for years. If Robert was out, at 5:45, Bogie was sitting by the door, tail wagging expectantly.

When Robert started taking evening classes that required him to be gone much later than 6 o’clock, Bogie didn’t mind. He would wait as long as it took until Robert came home. Oh, sure, he might run to eat a quick supper. But as soon as possible, he would beeline back to the door.

It didn’t matter how long it took Robert to come home, Bogie’s belief that he would return never wavered. And nothing was more joyful than the little spotted dog at his master’s return.

Though “no one knows of that day and hour” of our own homecoming, we know the time is near (Matthew 24:36). Jesus has promised He will take us to live with Him forever (John 14:2).

We know good things will come to those of us who wait!