Chapter 27: What a Friend — Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
In Chapter 27, Sandee prepares her two-year-old Golden retriever, Tesla, for a visit to an Alzheimer’s care facility. Tesla has been calm and even-tempered since she was a puppy, traits that make her well-suited for therapy work with advanced-stage patients. Sandee leads Tesla into the multipurpose room, where several residents are gathered. Some are alert and reach out to the dog, while others remain withdrawn. Tesla approaches those who beckon her, and Sandee always asks permission before letting the dog greet anyone.
During the visit, a bright-eyed woman at a table pats her knees and calls to Tesla. The dog responds immediately, and the woman happily strokes her coat and giggles when Tesla offers a paw. Without warning, the woman smacks Tesla on the nose and screams accusations, saying the dog is being mean and is bad. Tesla looks to Sandee for guidance. Sandee kneels, comforts her dog, and tells her she is a good girl, then instructs her to stay close. The nursing staff gently leads the weeping woman back to her room. Sandee silently prays for the woman, recognizing that her disease is advanced.
Despite the incident, Tesla returns to work without hesitation, visiting every patient who beckons her. Over the following weeks, Sandee and Tesla continue their visits, and Tesla shows no wariness or grudges toward the residents. She lavishes everyone with affection and companionship.
Several weeks later, they meet Maggie, a petite woman who moved in just two days earlier. The director explains that Maggie has not spoken or eaten since arriving. Sandee greets Maggie and invites her to pet Tesla, but Maggie shakes her head no. Sandee smiles and lets Tesla move around the room to greet others. After a few minutes, Tesla returns to Maggie and sits quietly at her feet, resting a paw against her shoe. At first Maggie seems unaware, but then she reaches down, touches Tesla’s head, and leans over to kiss the dog. Sandee fights back tears as Maggie begins talking to Tesla, telling her about a pink dress she sewed for a big dance and how pretty Tesla would look in a pink collar.
Maggie’s whole demeanor changes—her eyes brighten, her head lifts, and she begins to sing hymns from long ago. One by one, other residents join in, and Sandee sings too, her voice trembling with emotion. As she sings the chorus to “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” she looks at Tesla and realizes that the dog’s willingness to overlook an offense and meet people where they are has led to a powerful, sacred moment.
The chapter closes with reflection questions and a prayer. The questions ask what blessings might have been missed if Tesla had let one negative experience affect her treatment of the residents, and whether the reader has ever allowed a bad experience to keep them from blessings. The prayer asks for help in releasing grudges and forgiving others, with discernment to understand others’ actions and move forward. The chapter ends with a proverb: “Being wise is better than being strong; yes, knowledge is more important than strength.”
Key Events
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Sandee and Tesla arrive at the Alzheimer’s care facility for a therapy visit.
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Tesla greets residents who reach out to her, while Sandee asks permission before each interaction.
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A woman pets Tesla happily, then suddenly smacks the dog’s nose and screams accusations.
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Staff escort the weeping woman away; Sandee comforts Tesla and prays for the woman.
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Tesla returns to work immediately, visiting every patient who beckons her, and continues to do so in subsequent weeks without fear or resentment.
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Weeks later, Sandee and Tesla meet Maggie, a new resident who has not spoken or eaten since arriving.
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Maggie initially refuses to pet Tesla, but Tesla sits quietly at her feet.
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Maggie eventually touches Tesla’s head, kisses her, and begins talking about a pink dress she sewed.
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Maggie then starts singing hymns, and other residents join in, including Sandee.
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The chapter ends with reflection questions and a prayer about forgiveness and discernment.
Character Development
Sandee – Sandee demonstrates patience, compassion, and faith. She is attuned to Tesla’s needs and reassures her after the incident. She also prays for the confused woman, showing empathy even when the woman acted aggressively. Sandee’s emotional response to Maggie’s breakthrough reveals her deep care for the residents and her recognition of the sacredness of the moment.
Tesla – Tesla is the central figure of the chapter. Her calm, even-tempered nature makes her an ideal therapy dog. After being struck, she shows no grudge or wariness, returning to her work with the same affection. Her willingness to sit quietly with Maggie, without forcing interaction, creates the space for Maggie to open up. Tesla embodies unconditional love and forgiveness.
Maggie – Maggie is introduced as a withdrawn, silent resident. Her refusal to engage initially changes when Tesla sits at her feet. Through her interaction with the dog, she begins to speak, share a memory, and sing. Her transformation illustrates the healing power of companionship and the ability of a gentle presence to break through isolation.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Forgiveness – The chapter’s central theme is forgiveness. Tesla forgives the woman who struck her and continues to serve others. The reflection questions and prayer directly address the challenge of releasing grudges and forgiving those who have wronged us.
Unconditional Love – Tesla’s behavior exemplifies unconditional love. She does not condition her affection on how others treat her. Her love is freely given, and it is this love that reaches Maggie.
Therapy Dog as Symbol – Tesla symbolizes the ideal of compassionate service. Her calm, non-judgmental presence represents the kind of love that meets people where they are, without expectation or resentment.
Music as Healing – Maggie’s singing of hymns brings the residents together and creates a sacred atmosphere. Music serves as a means of connection and emotional release, breaking through the isolation of dementia.
Discernment – The chapter’s prayer asks for discernment to understand others’ actions and to know how to move forward. This theme is also present in Sandee’s careful approach to each resident, asking permission and reading their cues.
Wisdom vs. Strength – The closing proverb emphasizes that wisdom and knowledge are more valuable than physical strength. This connects to Tesla’s gentle, wise approach, which achieves more than force or aggression could.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter illustrates the transformative power of forgiveness and presence. Tesla’s ability to overlook an offense and continue loving others is a model for human behavior. The chapter challenges readers to consider how holding onto grudges can block blessings, and it offers a prayerful path toward reconciliation. The scene with Maggie demonstrates that even the most withdrawn individuals can be reached through patient, unconditional love. The chapter also reinforces the book’s spiritual themes, tying the dog’s actions to biblical wisdom about forgiveness and the importance of discernment. It serves as a poignant reminder that small acts of kindness, offered without resentment, can create sacred moments of healing.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Tesla’s reaction to the woman who smacked her nose demonstrate the theme of forgiveness?
Tesla does not become wary or aggressive after the incident. She returns to work immediately and continues to visit every patient who beckons her in the following weeks. Her lack of grudge shows that she has forgiven the woman and does not let one negative experience affect her treatment of others. This models the kind of forgiveness the chapter’s prayer asks for.
2. What role does discernment play in Sandee’s interactions with the residents, especially with Maggie?
Sandee asks permission before letting Tesla approach each resident, respecting their boundaries. With Maggie, she does not push when Maggie refuses to pet Tesla; instead, she lets Tesla sit quietly at Maggie’s feet. This patient, discerning approach allows Maggie to open up on her own terms. Discernment involves reading cues and knowing when to act and when to wait.
3. How does the chapter connect the idea of wisdom with the events that unfold?
The closing proverb states that wisdom is better than strength. Tesla’s gentle, wise approach—sitting quietly, not forcing interaction—achieves what force or insistence could not. Maggie’s breakthrough comes through patient presence, not through any strong or aggressive action. The chapter suggests that wisdom, expressed through compassion and discernment, is more powerful than physical strength.
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