One minute, Harper finds herself in a trash bag left to die. In another minute she finds herself getting a massage in front of millions of people on national television. At the lowest point of her life her handicap forces her owner to leave her in a garbage bag. In an interesting twist of fate her handicap becomes a handy cap-tion, which gets her on the Today Show.

While watching the show, I was intrigued by the story of Harper, a puppy, which was left in the trash because of a condition that left her unable to walk or raise her head. This condition is called “swimming puppy disorder.” A woman from Sanford, Florida, noticed Harper squirming in the trash bag and rescued her. She took the gray pup to a local shelter. That’s how Harper ended up in the caring arms of Erica Daniel who was a regular at the shelter.

Erica took the dog to her home. She thought the dog would have to be euthanized, but to her amazement Harper responded positively to her massage. Erica then helped Harper get more massage and hydrotherapy. Consequently, though still struggling to stand, the dog is able to walk, raise her head, and is getting better in doing both.[1]

Perhaps you can relate with Harper; not as a puppy, but as someone who’s been rejected. Like that puppy, you might have been trashed. Notwithstanding, be encouraged to know that you are treasured. Someone might have given up on you; but there is someone else like that Florida woman and Erica Daniel who will give you a chance … and a break! There is someone else who will take you in your mess and help you become your best.

God uses rejection to get you from someone who sees you as handicapped to someone who sees you as handy. He uses it to get you from where you do not belong to where you will be longed. Harper was treated like garbage. However, the rejection got her entreated with a massage.

She started out, perhaps, rubbing her feeble body against junk and nibbling on other trash in the bag, in an effort to hang on to her dear life. But she ended up on the Today Show, rubbing shoulders with Matt Lauer and nibbling on his designer shoes. Harper’s ordeal turned out to bring a great deal to her. God uses rejection to do the same in your life. Be encouraged. Keep your head up.

Harper’s plight not only brought her to the lime light, it also shed light on what other rejected puppies where going through. Thanks to Harper, a bunch of other castaway puppies will find new homes with loving owners. Similarly, God uses your rejection to highlight what others are going through, and He uses your victory over it to help set others free.

Friend, being rejected is not the end of your life; rather, it’s a means to an end for your life. And that end is your destiny. Unlike Harper, rejection might not take you to the Today Show; however, you can show, today, that you will not allow it to take you out, but take you up.