By Tia McGraff, singer-songwriter/artist
& author of “Jake the Road Dawg” children’s book

The Greeks and Romans believed the “Dog Days of Summer” were a time of bad luck and catastrophe. For me, it reminds me of a particular day in August when a terrifying dog bite on my face taught me the gift of mercy. I was five years old.

Mom was a 7th grade-school teacher, and my dad worked in a factory. He was one of 9 children born in Canada to Transylvanian immigrant farmers. Hard-working Lutherans, devoted to serving God and their community. My dad's dream was to build a golf course.

One beautiful summer evening after supper, my parents were busy closing up the pro shop while my younger sister and I were outside playing. I was petting our fluffier dog, Rex and didn't notice the Alpha, Duke becoming jealous. Suddenly, the two were locked in a vicious dog fight with me in the middle.

I recall trying to scream, but nothing came out.  Somehow, I managed to climb out of the scratching and biting and up onto a picnic table. By this time, my parents were running out of the house toward me, horrified. My face had been torn open, and I needed stitches. 

In the Bible, God tells us that children are a gift and a blessing (Psalm 127:3)  and have an innocent kind of faith (Matthew 18:3).  I remember my dad driving as fast as he could to the hospital, my mom crying, and my tender five-year-old heart aching. Not for myself; not because blood was running down my face.  My heart ached because of the pain my parents were feeling…and also for Duke. I recall saying, "Mommy, it's going to be ok." And pleading, "Daddy, please don't hurt Duke. It wasn't his fault. It was mine. I should have petted him too.”

My adult self finds this bravery at such an early age hard to comprehend, but I believe Jesus taught me, as a little child, the gift of mercy that day.  A gift that isn't earned, but instead received. I understood what the dog had done and why he did it, and I was responding in mercy. It is something so essential to our spiritual lives that His Word mentions it 26 times in Psalm 136: "For His mercy endureth forever."   I knew in my heart that all Duke wanted was to be shown love, so I instinctively wanted my parents to show him mercy.  My plea worked; my dad decided to give our dog a second chance. 

Days later, when the doctor removed my bandage, the stitches had left an ugly scar down the left side of my face. For my parents, seeing it must have been a painful reminder of that terrifying incident. But for me, it became my badge of courage—a cool story to tell kids at school. I had been in the middle of a dog fight and lived to tell!

However, as I grew into a teenager it was a different story.  My scar became a painful source of that feeling, that word, that so many teenagers are susceptible to.  Rejection.  I didn't feel as pretty as my girlfriends. Ashamed, I tried hiding behind it.  Makeup helped, but at nineteen when I found my passion for singing and songwriting entering the Canadian music industry, makeup wasn’t enough.  Hearing photographers and label executives suggest I should get plastic surgery caused me to seriously consider giving up on my dream.  But God had a different plan for me.  He moved me, scars and all, to Nashville. 

Then, one Sunday morning in church service, I heard these words from John 20:27:

 "Put your finger here, see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

That’s when it hit me.  What if God had chosen to erase His scars during Christ's resurrection?  Would “doubting Thomas” have still believed?  It was the primary way Jesus confirmed to His disciples that it was indeed him, in the same body, now risen and transformed; reminders of the beautiful mercy and love our Father has for us. The scars told a story.

Perhaps mine could, too.  Through this one transforming encounter with His Word, God had shown me so much mercy.  Now, I wanted to display my scar boldly.  My lyrical writing deepened, my relationships grew, and I started liking myself more.

It wasn't long after this when my husband, Tommy, and I decided to adopt a dog from the Cheatham County Animal Hospital.  There we met a special Husky/Australian Shepherd that had been abused, abandoned and was one day away from being put down.  He had his scars too, and I fell in love with him immediately.  We named him Jake.

For the next 14 years, Tommy and I spent life on the road, performing for our fans. Jake came along with us on most trips, and soon it was apparent who the star in the family was.  Jake never seemed to get nervous or worried about what others thought of him.  He would just show up, wag his tail, and soak it all in. People connected with his story.  Then one day, I suddenly knew I needed to write a children's book. That’s how “Jake The Road Dawg” came to be.

Though we lost our precious Jake a few years ago, we’re still on a beautiful journey with the star of our family.   Today, my passion is sharing  the message Jake inspired in this book of hope and courage with kids of all ages at schools and libraries across the USA, Canada, and the UK.

I am a proud supporter of the Niagara SPCA animal shelter and our local chapter of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a book gifting program that mails free books to children from birth to age five in participating communities.  Tommy and I have also started a podcast called “Jake’s Place – Songs n’ Tails” sharing stories of our road life with Jake, music and special guests.  It’s amazing how God has brought our life experiences (scars and all!) together into one passion and purpose that we hope inspires others.

We all bear scars.  In our hearts, on our bodies, in our minds and souls.  But just like Jesus, our scars can tell our story if we let them.  Over the years, mine has faded and become barely visible.  I look in the mirror and see what time has smoothed on the surface, and I don’t even see it in photos anymore.  However, I’m still reminded of what I’ve learned from it that I’ll always carry within: mercy, courage, and strength.

By His stripes, we are healed.  (Isaiah 53:5).

About Tia McGraff

Tia McGraff is an award-winning Americana singer-songwriter and author who hails from Canada.  She and her husband, Tommy Parham tour together worldwide as a writing and performing musical duo, having been described as “a modern day Johnny and June.”  Their time on the road with their beloved dog, Jake, inspired  Tia to write Jake The Road Dawg, an endearing children’s book with a message of hope and courage especially appealing to animal lovers.  This book is now part of their touring journey shared in schools and libraries across the US, Canada and the UK.   In their podcast titled “Jake’s Place – Songs n’ Tails,” Tia and Tommy share their personal songs, stories, and road-life lessons that are heartwarming, thought-provoking and entertaining.

Tia’s reSOURCEs:

“Jake the Road Dawg” children’s book – By Tia McGraff

[Click Image Below]

Podcast: “Jake’s Place - Songs n’ Tails”

Music and touring schedule: Website

Bible story of Jesus revealing His scars to “Doubting Thomas”