By Brenda Blanchard
Author-Speaker-Bible Teacher

Sometimes, second choices and chances are all we need. Judy St. Clair certainly feels that way. Since she was 33, a constant snowy field of vision from plaquing around her optic nerves caused by multiple sclerosis made the use of a white cane imperative. When the Northwest Lion’s Club of San Antonio heard of her plight, they provided a guide dog from the Leader Dogs for the Blind.

“A dog is man’s best friend, that’s true. The big difference between a cane and a dog is you can’t talk to a cane,” Judy says with a giggle.

In June 1993, Judy qualified for a 30-day training school at Leader Dogs’ headquarters in Rochester, Michigan. After Judy learned hand and voice commands, Leader Dogs presented her with the harness for Dinah, a female golden retriever, the dog Judy had requested.

At first, Dinah seemed to be the perfect companion, but then she began to regress when Judy and she went out in public. After nine days, Judy knew Dinah wasn’t going to work out, so she sat on a bench on the Leader Dogs’ grounds and prayed.

Lord, I really didn’t trust you for who you had chosen for me. When they asked me what dog I wanted, I told them. I got what I wanted, and she bombs out. Please, give me what you have for me. You have me here for a purpose. I need a dog, the one you want.

Later that day, the Leader Dogs’ trainer took Dinah away and returned with Toby, a majestic two-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever, the dog Leader Dogs had selected for Judy from the beginning.

“When he walked into my room, I just knew right then that he was meant to be mine,” she says.

That very afternoon, Toby saved Judy’s life. A car ran a red light right in front of the training center, and Toby halted, keeping her out of the car’s path.

Following their training, Judy and Toby returned to San Antonio to resume life with Judy’s sons, Bobby, 6, and Danny, 3. Toby became an instant hit with the boys just as he did with everyone he met. His happy disposition, evidenced by a big wagging tail, won hearts on a daily basis.

Although Toby was a blessing to Judy, she still had some issues in her life to work through. In the midst of going blind, she had suffered a heart-breaking divorce and then within two years, both her parents died. In finding solace, she held on to the Lord’s promise that He wouldn’t leave her nor forsake her.

“It’s kind of ironic that one of the themes of Leader Dogs is out of the book of Ruth, ‘Whether thou goest, I’ll go with thee.’ Of course, they’re referring to the dog and the bonding of the dog being your guide,” Judy says. “But, the Lord began to show me and work through Toby. He spoke through a donkey in the Bible, and so He can teach us through anything that we’re open to. I was hungry and open for God to rebuild my life.”

In March 1995, Judy married Joel, a L.V.N., and Toby again widened his circle of love. And in that same year, Judy and Toby began a ministry sharing the Gospel. Although friends encouraged Judy to make business cards and flyers to advertise the ministry, Judy refused.

“I don’t want to promote myself. I want God to open up doors for me.”

And, the doors opened, simply by word-of-mouth. She and Toby gave presentations to churches, schools, kid’s crusades, horse shows, and sensitivity training for the military, low vision clinics for airlines and other businesses.

“The Lord began to show me that this is an opportunity to share with people who are not physically blind in this world, but who may be spiritually blind,” Judy adds.
One of the teachings used in her ministry is from Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV). ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’

“Toby is not a regular dog, but was set apart with a specific purpose in mind, trained to be obedient. To follow the Master’s command, to be able to bond and have a wonderful relationship with a blind person,” Judy says, then makes a comparison to a person’s need to bond with Jesus Christ. “We’re blind in this world without Jesus and then when He comes into our lives, He opens up our spiritual eyes and we can truly have a wonderful relationship where we walk hand-in-hand. Yes, I’m holding on to that harness handle, but in my heart, I’m holding the Lord’s hand because ‘he leads me and guides me continually.’”

In the summer of 2003, Toby once again saved Judy’s life. It was dusk and Judy and Toby went for a walk around the neighborhood with a sighted friend and her dog. They had only walked for a few minutes when Toby reared up and yanked over to Judy’s right. Toby started limping, so they stopped walking. Judy’s friend noticed Toby’s paw was swelling and ran to get a vehicle to get him home. Once inside the house, Judy’s son, Danny, examined Toby’s right paw and found the strike marks of a rattlesnake.

At the veterinarian’s office, they began an anti-venom drip into Toby. A prayer chain began and within 24 hours, Toby came home. Thankfully, Toby never lost any tissue around the bite area as the veterinarian predicted and even fully recovered at a faster rate than believed possible.

Again, God used Toby to teach Judy a life lesson. Toby had willingly taken the rattlesnake bite to protect Judy. His obedience in fulfilling his purpose as a guide dog saved Judy’s life. He acted out of unconditional love for her.

In September 2003 after 10 years of guide service, Toby took retirement and Judy received a female sable-colored German Shepherd named Dandy provided through Leader Dogs and sponsored again by Northwest Lion’s Club of San Antonio.

Like one of the commands given in working with a guide dog, Judy seeks to move forward with the Lord and her ministry.

“Unless the Lord opens up another door, I’m going to continue doing what I’m doing with the new dog. This new dog is a legacy to Toby.”

In late summer 2004, Toby passed away. Judy and her family buried him under an oak tree on a friend’s farm. For all who knew and loved Toby, he was an oak, strong and unwavering in his commitment to being Judy’s guide dog. He taught many through his steadfast love, obedience and joyful attitude the importance of fulfilling our purposes. Judy credits him with living triumphantly by “being a gentle giant, so humble.”

Brenda Blanchard, founder of The Door of Hope Ministries and Sisters in Christ Bible Studies, speaks and writes practical messages to encourage a one-on-one relationship with Jesus. See www.brendablanchard.com  Brendablanchard1@aol.com