Saturdays with Stella: How My Dog Taught Me to Sit, Stay, and Come When God Calls [Paperback]

Allison K. Pittman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 19, 2008

Sometimes your best four-legged friend is also your best teacher

When you bring a new dog into your home, a wash of great joy can become a trial of perseverance as your furry pal chews, digs, yaps, and yes, piddles her way through every room in the house. Allison Pittman learned this all too well when she adopted a “tiny, shiny puppy of indefinable breed(s).” Stella wasted no time in turning her home upside-down as only a pup can.

As could be expected, six weeks of obedience school covered the much needed basics–sit, stay, come, and down. What Allison didn’t expect was the spiritual benefit she would receive as each Saturday lesson revealed a fascinating metaphor. In this heart-warming, thoughtful, and often hilarious tribute to her beloved Stella, Allison Pittman shares how she came to understand what it means to follow the ultimate Master, including how to:

Sit!–at the feet of Jesus and listen for His voice
Drop It!–and let go of personal agendas
Come!–when it’s time to run in the right direction
Stay!–in God’s presence

In Saturdays with Stella, a slightly neurotic yet curiously adorable canine will not only capture your heart–she’ll show you how captivating you are to God.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“As a dog lover and the owner of a ‘precarious puppy’ named Jake, I fell in love with Saturdays with Stella. I adored the way Allison Pittman took me into her relationship with an insecure dog, reminding me of the importance of accepting God’s love for just who I am. I’m already thinking of a dozen people who will love this book, and I can’t wait to share it!”
—TRICIA GOYER, author of fifteen books, including Generation NeXt Marriage


"Spend a Saturday with Stella, and you’ll have a new friend for life, along with an amazing perspective on what it means to walk with God.”
—SIGMUND BROUWER, author of Broken Angel and Who Made the Moon?


“If only we could all be like Stella—sitting, staying, and coming when our Master calls. Not that Stella is perfect, but though she sometimes regresses (backslides), disobeys (rebels), and wallows in the garbage (don’t we all?), she knows her master and always returns repentant and grateful for grace. Imagine that: a dog for a role model!”
—TAMARA LEIGH, author of Splitting Harriet and Faking Grace


“Humorous examples of Stella’s misconduct and learning lace the pages of Allison Pittman’s book, and each one parallels our relationship with the Heavenly Master. Commands from an
Intermediate Obedience canine class filter into scriptural charges whispered by a loving Father. Allison Pittman has woven a funny, touching, inspirational book. A must-read for those who long to walk with God and not strain at the leash.”
—EILEEN KEY, author of Dog Gone!


“Pittman has dug up a backyard treasure in Saturdays with Stella. Her wit, wisdom, and wagging-of-tales will cause you to laugh, sigh, and sit up in anticipation of the next chapter. Stella captures your heart like Pittman captures God’s truth. She reveals the essence of our need for spiritual obedience yet serves it in a way that makes us beg for more. I highly recommend you reserve a spot for this must read.”
—LINDA GOLDFARB, founder of Triune-Living Ministries, national speaker, syndicated radio talk show host, and columnist


“Saturdays with Stella is a delightful book for dog lovers. Allison Pittman uses the commands that she teaches her dog at obedience school to teach us how to ‘sit’ and ‘wait’ on the Lord. And although we may fail, just as Stella did at obedience school, God’s love and grace are sufficient for us all.”
—SUSAN OSBORN, director of the Christian Communicator Manuscript Critique Service and author of 29 books

About the Author

Allison Pittman is the author of the three books in the popular Crossroads of Grace series. Before her life as a novelist, Allison spent sixteen years teaching high school English. A founding member and copresident of the Christian Writer’s Group of the Greater San Antonio area, she devotes her time inspiring other writers to work toward their goals and sharpen their skills. Allison lives in Universal City, Texas with her husband Mike, their three sons, and Stella.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books; 1st Edition ISBN # 9781601421395 edition (August 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601421397
• ISBN-13: 978-1601421395
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #854,429 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As far as I know, I have always been a writer. Before I could put words to page, I would dictate stories to my mother. I have always lulled myself to sleep by crafting stories--a new chapter each night. When God called me to write, I was thrilled to answer His prompting. And so it was, after a long conversation with my husband, I left a 20-year teaching career to pursue a new direction. It called for a HUGE step of faith, but God has kept me and our family safe.

I count every single one of my readers as one of God's blessings in my life, and I like to think of my stories as being the first step in a conversation. Please visit my website, www.allisonpittman.com and send me an email. It is one of my greatest joys to hear from you!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great lessons in this book!, August 30, 2008

By 

Michelle Sutton (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Saturdays with Stella: How My Dog Taught Me to Sit, Stay, and Come When God Calls (Paperback)

Saturdays will Stella is an easy, enjoyable read with some great lessons to learn in regards to not only training your dog, but obeying the Lord. :) I just wish I had this book when my dog Mattie was alive. She was a nervous piddler, too. We never figured out how to fix that except to have her become an outside dog. Then she stopped. At any rate, I loved this book and read it quickly. The pictures are cute, too. But the spiritual lessons are so good that I even read some out loud to my husband. There is a lot you can learn about obedience (and even more to ponder about God's ways) from reading Saturdays with Stella. I highly recommend it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, yet deep, devotional for pet lovers, September 9, 2008

By 

Christina Lockstein "Christy's Book Blog" (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Saturdays with Stella: How My Dog Taught Me to Sit, Stay, and Come When God Calls (Paperback)

Saturdays with Stella by Allison Pittman is the humorous non-fiction tale of Pittman's struggle to teach her timid dog, Stella, how to obey, and in turn learned lessons about how to obey God herself. Pittman adopted a female puppy of unidentifiable breed, fell in love, and named her Stella. Not necessarily in that order. But Stella had a tendency to piddle all over the house and chew anything and everything she could get her little paws on. Stella's troubles were soon causing stress within the house, so when Pittman saw a sign advertising obedience classes at her local pet store, she signed right up. As Stella learns to sit, stay, and come, so Pittman learns that God tries to teach us similar lessons about trusting in and obeying Him. The chapters are perfect for nightly devotional reading, and Pittman's lessons are perfect for dogs and their owners. Our dog, Charlie, also has trouble piddling and listening, and I can't wait to use Pittman's easy to understand lessons. Her instructions about God are equally valuable, especially the lesson about keeping our eyes on Him. She takes a simple subject and makes it remarkably profound, all while keeping a sense of humor.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, September 1, 2008

By 

Karen (San Antonio, TX, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saturdays with Stella: How My Dog Taught Me to Sit, Stay, and Come When God Calls (Paperback)

This is a great book that dog people will really enjoy. The stories sparkle with fun, and the spiritual moments come through with a lovely tender touch. I strongly recommend it as a good read for any age.