December 14, 2018

The Stench Tells the Truth

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.

– Romans 7:15-16

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. – Galatians 6:7-8

Yesterday I once again had the opportunity to deskunk a dog. Actually, this time it was two dogs. I have lost track of the number of times my oldest dog has been sprayed by a skunk. This time he led his baby brother into the fray.

To be honest, this time the skunk got the worst of it. He lost his life. That doesn’t generally happen. But the rest of it was a repeat performance of the worst kind.

He knows what’s coming. No matter how many times he rolls in the grass and dirt, the smell remains. No matter how many times he tries to rid himself of the foul odor, it stays deeply present in his long fur.

That’s how it is with us. We sin and we pay the consequences for those sins. We say the wrong thing and people turn away. We do the wrong thing and people remember how deeply our actions hurt them. We don’t show up when we should and people understand how little we truly care.

We end up smelling foul in a way we never intended. We end up with consequences we never expected. But we should have expected them.

I have warned my dog again and again to stay away from skunks. He doesn’t listen. Experience hasn’t taught him anything. And, I suppose, it’s a whole lot better than when he takes on a snake. That almost gives me a heart attack. I try to see the positive in a bad situation.

But it doesn’t change the reality. Both dogs were confined to the backyard while I prepared a special concoction designed to rid them of the stench. They had to endure its application, wait for it to do its magic, then rinse and repeat. It’s December. It’s not a good time to be outside wet. It had to happen.

We face the consequences of our actions too. We can point fingers at others, we can make excuses, we can tell ourselves the odor doesn’t come from us. None of that makes it true. We reap what we sow. When we sow distrust and lies, we bear the consequences of those actions. When we sin, we feel the pain that comes when our sins are exposed.

Most of the time we know better. We understand somewhere deep inside that what we’re doing is wrong but we do it anyway. Just like my dog, we hope we won’t be found out but there’s just no chance our actions won’t reap consequences. It’s something to remember before we go where we know we shouldn’t be.

January 28, 2018

Animals Teach Us About Love

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.” – Job 12:7-8

Our hearts are broken. An animal rescue in a nearby town burned during the night. One of the rescuers died, as did numerous animals. Other rescues have rushed to the aid of the 27 animals that survived.

Why? How could this happen? It is just so sad that tragedy could and would strike something so good.

The answers will come in the days and weeks ahead. No doubt, fire officials will determine the actual cause. The kind, devoted woman who died will be buried. The surviving animals will be cleaned and treated and loved on, with many people giving of themselves to help these poor creatures overcome the trauma caused by the fire.

Then what? Does life ever go back to normal? What is normal anyway?

My three dogs all came from kill shelters. The oldest was a stray that was picked up by animal control. The first time we were in the pasture when a car went down a bordering dirt road I knew how he came to be a stray. He took off running after that car, completely ignoring my calls to stop. Fortunately, the property is completely fenced so he was never in any danger. And, yes, he’s gotten much better at following commands and not running after vehicles.

My middle dog was just a puppy when she came to be mine. We had lost a dog to cancer and the dog that is now my oldest was lonely. The veterinarian recommended a puppy for him so that’s what he got. She is jet black, with a ferocious bark. She is my protector and the one who rarely leaves my side. She is a sweetheart.

She was not the unanimous choice to bring home. My mother wanted a “pretty” one, maybe grey or spotted. She really wanted a different breed. But I was determined to get the black Labrador/Weimaraner puppy. Black dogs are generally the last adopted. I wanted a dog that was least likely to get adopted.

My baby was on death row. He was about six months old and an owner surrender. That’s something I will never understand. Adoption is forever. But that’s a topic for a different time. The puppy that came in with him had been euthanized two days earlier. This little guy was living on borrowed time.

No one wanted him. No one. Can anyone else relate? So I brought him home with me. He is beautiful, loving, and a bundle of energy. He was just what all of us needed in our season of grief.

Why am I telling you all this? If we truly want to experience the earthly version of God’s unconditional love for us, the best way is with a dog. They teach us how to love and to put others before ourselves. They show us what loyalty looks like. And forgiveness. They remind us of the simple things in life – a good meal, a warm bed, hugs and kisses from those you love.

Every dog deserves a home where he/she is loved. That’s what pet rescues work so tirelessly to accomplish. They take in strays and save as many as they can from kill shelters. They spend large amounts of money on medical bills to heal and care for as many animals as they can.

So today remember those who are lost. And reach out to those who live. Caring for animals can teach us and heal us in ways nothing else can.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Animals Teach Us So Much

“Ask the animals and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.” -- Job 12:7

The newborn black calf was lost. He didn’t know where his mama was. He didn’t even know for sure who his mama was. He only knew he was hungry and standing in mud and water.

So I reached down and rubbed him. He leaned against me. I comforted him as best I could. Then we headed toward his mama -- and his twin. This new mama was overwhelmed. She understood that she had two babies. I was thankful for that. But she didn’t know what to do with one, much less two.

I asked God to please help us get the mama and her two babies around to a pen. He did. I tried to give the little one who got lost a bottle. It didn’t work out too well. His mama appeared to step on him just before that. She’s didn’t mean to. I pray she didn’t hurt him. I finally left the little family, with plenty of food and water for mama.

Some things are just in God’s hands. I know my heart will break if the little calf doesn’t make it. But I also know that only God can save him. I can do my part. I can prepare bottles and feed the calves. I can feed their mama. But I can’t make them strong enough to survive. That’s in God’s hands.

“For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of all humanity.” -- Job 12:10

Animals can teach us so much about life, about dealing with heartache and hope and promise. And animals can teach us how little we really can control about our world and those we love. We are all at God’s mercy. He cares for us and we call out to Him. But the choice is His.

I was tempted to bring this little fellow who needed nourishment to the house with me. I grew up bottle-feeding calves. I know how to do that. I figured he could stay in the backyard with the two dogs. Except our older dog is sick with cancer and I knew she couldn’t handle the added stress of a newborn.

So I chose the needs of one over the needs of another. I wonder how often God has to do that. He cares for all His children but what happens when we both want the same thing and there’s only one thing to go around? He has to choose. How hard that must be, to allow one child’s heart to be broken even as another celebrates.

I am thankful that I don’t have to make the choices that God makes every day. I’m thankful that He is in charge. And I’m so grateful that God will watch over that mama cow and her babies tonight. I pray that He’ll strengthen that little family and that all three will thrive in the coming days. They are in His hands and He cares for them, just as He cares for me and you.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Pets Teach Us About Life

“Ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.”

-- Job 12:7

God has given me many wonderful gifts but few have touched my heart like the animals He has placed in my care. They have taught me so much about unconditional love, sacrifice, and gratitude. They have filled my life with love and laughter.

On Monday I learned that my beautiful Labrador/retriever mix has a cancerous tumor growing in her shoulder. Amputation is not an option. We can only do what we can to ease her pain, try and protect her from a leg fracture and monitor for the likely time when the tumor will spread to her lungs. I am heartbroken.

It’s not the first time I’ve faced such sad news. I have lost other dogs, other companions, other sweet faces that live still in my heart. But I am not ready for this one. Will I ever be ready?

This little bundle of joy had arrived at my parents home two days before I made the cross-country move. I held her in my arms until she became too big to carry. She was my security blanket, my joy, in a world that was uneven and unhappy. I’m not sure I would have survived those first months without that little girl.

God knew that. It was why she was there. A gift when I needed it most. A reminder of His unconditional love.

She’d been limping and we’d taken her several times to the doctor. She’s 10 and that’s the age for arthritis. The doctors would give her a shot each time and she seemed to get better. But not this last time. I knew something was really wrong. I insisted on an x-ray. The result was something I’d never imagined. A cancerous tumor was already destroying the bone in her shoulder.

Now it’s my turn to care for this precious girl who has given so much to me. I’ll love her and make her as comfortable as possible. I’ll cherish each moment with this special girl until it’s time for her to go home to a place free of pain and filled with playmates and treats.

Animals teach us so much about life and love, about God and the true meaning of why we’re here. To love God. To honor Him. To care for others. To do good where we can. And to have fun.

I’m so thankful that God has blessed me with my precious pets. They have taught me so much and enlarged my heart in ways I’d never imagined possible.