God in the Trees

I wish I had some profound story to tell of the simple life of labs but today it seems that I cannot. I sat on my front porch today, remembering to 'be still'...and to 'know God'. I sat in silence, in the white rocker where I often sit and listen to music as I consume the latest book or novel I may be reading. I sat there....without music....without books....looking for God in the trees.

You see, I have always found great peace in the power of God when looking at nature. There is a beautiful tree in our neighbor's yard that has flowered and now transforming into leaves. I should see God's power, I should see His presence, but today, I could not see God in the trees.

I saw the wind blow...and I thought, God, are you showing me yourself in the wind? We all know the old example of God being like the wind. Today, the wind was not enough. So, I closed my eyes in the black silence and asked God to reveal Himself. I am seeking the peace that only He can give.

Steve has encouraged me in ways that he can, my parents have sent words of encouragement in time of need, but I realize that though my family is a gift that often only God is enough, that only God can quench the thirsting soul. I remember Psalm 77....I remembered two words "cannot speak". David tells of a period in his life where he is so overwhelmed his soul refused to be comforted. Lately I am living this battle ground. I am asking God to give me grace, to give me peace, to remember HE is in charge.

I often wonder why the wicked do prosper? What of the concept sowing and reaping?

I know God is telling me to rest. I think God wants me to look beyond the trees. To see God not in something, but to see God when there is nothing.

God, please give me a miracle. Please show me the hope that only you can give.

DOG-TIRED

There's a way we say "TIRED" in our house when we are really tired. We say it will two syllables instead of one. It is said with the slight east Tennessee accent that my husband has, it is "Tie-urd".

Tonight we just got back from dinner at mom and dad's. We took Zeke and Naomi to play with Daffy and Peyton. That is always an adventure. As I type this Zeke is laying across my lap, absolutely exhausted. Nay is somewhere in the house, a corner I assume, more than likely sleeping. I would say they are dog-tired.
They spend most of their time running in the yard, wrestling, playing, barking, and then of course, begging. Generally they don't beg for food but they know good food when they smell it.

Sometimes in life we spent so much time in life running around that we forget to stop and take a break and rest. Rest is often what we need to get through the week, the situation, the day. My father tells this illustration of when he was in the Marines, serving in the First Gulf War known as Desert Storm. As he explains Psalm 23, he talks about how throughout the war he cannot remember a night where the Lord did not give him a peaceful rest. Though the place was dangerous, the times difficult, away from family, and literally a place of war...God gave him rest.

I can think of no better illustration than that. As Zeke has now found himself curled up at the end of the couch, I believe he is getting real rest. I know that I have heard that God grants grace in time of need and it is so true, but people often forget to add that along with GRACE is REST. A rest that you can wake up from refreshed and at peace. Along with REST is JOY. Along with JOY is LAUGHTER. Along with LAUGHTER is LOVE. Along with LOVE is PEACE and many, many more blessings God has in store.

The Crack in the Door

This picture is so old! It was the first year we had Naomi, at our home in Lenoir City, Tennessee. She was a "runner" as I like to call it. She'd see a crack in a door and she'd go jetting down the driveway with her ears flapping in the wind. I remember one time she turned around and looked at me on her way down, as if she were laughing at me. We had to keep her leashed up in the yard back then. Today it is different, she is older and wiser, and well.....wearing a shock collar for the electric fence. Truthfully, she is just more obedient.

One morning she got away without me noticing. She was leashed up but somehow, her collar broke and she started wandering the neighborhood. I was crazy enough to chase after her in my pajamas, barefoot, in the mud (as the subdivision was still fairly new). She's a stubborn one that's for sure.

And yet, I love the stubborn girl. I remember not being a "dog person". I couldn't pet a dog without washing my hands. Now I let them lay on me, lick me, and live in my house! I never understood the loss of a pet. Now the thought of losing Nay or Zeke brings tears to my eyes. Such love a little companion can bring.

I am glad, that even though I am the stubborn girl, running through the crack in the door, turning around laughing.....that my Master still loves me, inspite of me.

Dancing in the Rain

I remember when we first got Zeke. Seeing the world through his eyes was always exciting. I've never had a puppy so I'm not sure if all puppies react the same way.

The first time it rained the little guy danced around in the rain. It was the kind of rain that dropped in large drops, but in a slow uneven pattern. It would hit him in the behind and he'd twist around. it would hit him in the head and he'd twist the other way. He bounced around as I stood there laughing. Rain doesn't bother him anymore. He just goes out in it as if it is expected.

Naomi is different. Any kind of storm just absolutely frightens her. She knows it by the pressure in the air.

I'd like to view a storm the way Zeke does. Dancing in the rain, curious about what's happening. Not frightened a bit. When we remember whose in charge of the rain we can rest, but sometimes we fret as we run for shelter or search for an umbrella. Life's storms are not always easy but God can give us reason to dance in the rain. To still enjoy the journey he gives. God has given me a good life, a life that reminds me of His goodness and love for me. The blessings he has granted me through Godly friends and family has shown me the "BLESSINGS" he bestows. When God allows a dark rain cloud to enter my life, I know that He still gives me reason to dance in the rain.

Who's Walking Whom?

With spring here, Naomi and I have been walking. (Zeke is still in leash-training). I love walking with her. Sometimes she challenges me and makes me walk faster. Sometimes she makes me stop so she can smell every other dogs pee on the way. It's been good because walking is "our time". Zeke is so young he consumes so much of us at home.

They say sometimes the dog walks us. Naomi is much like that. She pulls me every which way and I am often trying to get her back on course. I have a course I want to take, a speed I want to go, a direction I am headed....but Naomi often has other plans. After our first walk my arms hurt from all the pulling. I often have to remind her who is boss!

I think the Lord is that way with me. He wants to lead me and instead I have my own agenda. I pull along the way and insist we stop where I want to stop. Naomi is independent, and I often act the same way. I want to go a different path and the Lord knows exactly where we are headed, but I fight it at times. How easy a walk through life would be if we would do so submissively. Letting God lead us down the road, stopping where He sees fit. Sometimes as humans we want to take things in our own hands and go the path WE choose. If we allow him to lead us, though at times through puddles, up hills, down hills, crossing heavily trafficked roads....we would see the blessings He has in store.

In Stitches

A few weeks ago my Zekester had an "episode". We are still not sure what his "episodes" really are. The vet says that Zeke is possibly borderline epileptic and when he bumps his head he has a seizure. Well, we've had two instances where this has happened. The first was in the middle of the night. I was at my parents and Steve was out of town. Zeke jumped up in the middle of the night, ran straight into the heater tower and then a chair and then started seizing. A few weeks ago he did it again, except I was sleeping I just heard him running around and then Steve yelled for me, he was laying at the bottom of the stairs bleeding. It scared us! Four-hundred dollars later he is well. I have no idea what happened. Of course, the 6.5 years of experienced marriage allowed Steve and I to disagree :). With all of our Internet medical training Steve and I have differing opinions in what happened. Steve thinks that he hit his head and then seized, I think that he knows when he's about to seize and he flips out and starts running until it happens. (In which he fell down the stairs). Needless to say, Zeke doesn't seem to care. He goes on living life without a care in the world. Gotta love the life of a dog.

So Zeke is "in stitches". Don't you love cliches? "In stitches" means several things. It can mean "to fasten or join as if with stitches" or it can mean "laughing uncontrollably". Which do you think is Zeke? I really believe if he could "LAUGH OUT LOUD" the dog would. If he could "skip" he'd do it all the time. He practically bounces when he walks. Even when carrying that package of Ritz crackers I left on the table.

Lately my friend Lori has been sending me scriptures to encourage me through my day. It has me "in stitches". It is true that God's Word can really sooth the soul. It can take my wounds and ever so carefully stitch them up to help them heal. It is like medicine that heals. God's Word is truly powerful and everlasting. It is good that His promises cannot fail us and though sometimes one verse speaks to us more than another, if we search long and hard enough God will give His answer. I'm so glad for the stitches of the Word of God to help heal my hurting heart. I am also thankful for the friend who helps administer the stitches. :)

I am grateful to God for the laughing and the love that life can bring. Thankful for the labs that keep me laughing uncontrollably and for the friends that help heal the wounded, hurting heart when needed. Thankful for all the "stitches".

Silence Speaks Louder

My Zeke is now 80+ lbs. Boy do I have stories and pictures to post. Naomi is still my demanding diva, but I love her. She's cuddly at one minute and wants alone time the next. Zeke is the "follower". Whatever room I am in, he is in. Wherever I sit, he will sit. He is "my dog".

In spite of their different personalities there is one trait they both posess that I can never seem to measure. LOYALTY. I wish that every human being could posess the same quality of undeniable loyalty that comes in a dog.

Forget to feed them: forgiving me. Neglect to play with them: loving me. Failure to walk them: wanting me. There is nothing like the love of a dog. And so I wonder if my own human traits, one of wife, daughter, sister, friend....can i even begin to posess such LOYALTY?

My life has recently been posessed of unthinkable circumstances. We never imagine things happening to "us", and yet they do. I have found that it has brought me to view life differently, to view people differently.

Silence does speak louder than words. Sometimes, silence is defeaning. Sometimes, I have found it to be the most painful than the word mis-spoken. Simple words..."I'm praying for you"...."Just saying Hi"...are often filled with so many meanings. It can be 'JUST ENOUGH'. And sometimes.....nothing....is filled with so much. Silence does speak louder than words. Sometimes just enough "words" to leave a hurting heart.

Thankfully, my dogs silence speak loudly of loyalty. I believe if they could speak to me they would say just the words I needed to hear for the day.

I hope that I can remember to pray when needed, speak when called for, and love like I should. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." I pray God help me have those words "fitly spoken" when someone in my "family" needs it most.