Lessons From a Puppy Part 1

Puppies, puppies, PUPPIES!! That’s all I know these days, is puppies!! The day after Thanksgiving we found three little newborn puppies up in our woods, abandoned. Well, we couldn’t just leave them there. One of the coldest days of the year was in the forecast for the very next night and we weren’t about to leave them out there to die. This is our sweet baby, Poe.

I’ve asked God many times since then WHY!? Why, oh why, oh why, Lord, did you bring three puppies into our lives NOW? We were at a really good place. Three of our kids were adults and taking care of themselves. The other two, teenagers, well on their way to being fully functional adults!!! We were just beginning to see the gold a the end of the rainbow. The light at the end of the tunnel. We were so close to a life of ease. There were no more messes. Not only could they feed themselves, but could fix a meal for the rest of the family as well. Sleep was a beautiful respite from the day’s struggle. All I had to do was take my melatonin and I was out until morning. THEN ENTERED THREE INFANT PUPPIES!!

I no longer get a full night's sleep. For weeks we were bottle feeding/syringe feeding around the clock and at all hours of the night. Now I still struggle to make sure they’re getting enough into their ever growing bellies. And talk about a MESS!!!

In the early days, when they first started walking and playing my living room was a wreck. Seeking to save the first room a person sees when they enter our house, we moved their “play room” to the back of the house, into the dining room. But no matter how hard I tried, there was always a mess. Then with the lack of sleep, I just couldn’t keep up anymore.

There were many days I fussed and griped to my husband about my woes. He finally said, “Well, the Lord’s giving you plenty of writing material,” in hopes of encouraging me. Ain’t it the truth? I’ve thought many times about writing a book entitled, Lesson’s From a Puppy. Today’s lesson fell right into what the Lord’s been teaching me about that climb up to the mountain’s top.

Our little beasts are now pushing three months old and they’ve just discovered the stairs. The biggest one took to them without any problem at all. His boy was at the top of those stairs and he didn’t let fear of heights or the unknown deter him from his goal. The other two, well, that’s another story.

The smallest one, Poe, set off to follow me up the stairs this morning and he ALMOST made it to the top before the “what ifs” set in. You could see the struggle. The front of his body would lurch forward, while the back legs were set firmly. As I encouraged him to “Come on boy, you can do it,” he started looking around. He saw off the side of the stairs, the long drop down. He saw behind him the many stairs that he’d have to hit if he were to fall backwards. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Longing to move forward, but too scared of what was behind him.

It reminded me of a message my husband preached one time. He emphasized the importance of not letting your past hold you back. He used me as an example. “Yay me,” said no preacher's wife EVER.

When I had JUST turned 18 years old, I was driving down a busy road on my way to my sister’s house to babysit my two precious nephews. As I was coming down a hill, there was a red light at the bottom, but I didn’t notice the red light, I was paying attention to my rearview mirror. I was trying to decide if that was my friend’s car that had just passed me. Did I mention that I had just turned 18? Yeah, yeah, rookie move. I agree. When I looked back up, it was too late. My little MG convertible plowed into the back of the completely stopped car in front of me, at 50ish miles an hour! Needless to say I sustained some bad injuries, but all in all, the Lord took good care of me.

The point to both of these little ancedotes is this. Don’t let what is in the past delay you from moving forward, on your journey. It’s behind you now. The past, if it’s been put under the blood and wrongs made right, can’t hurt you anymore.

It doesn’t have to be the past of years back. It could be yesterday’s mistakes, or last month’s, or last year’s. However long or not so long it’s been, just remind yourself to stop looking in your rearview mirrors and keep your eyes on the road ahead.

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:14

I saw this on Instagram today and thought that it would be the perfect ending to this post. ;)

PS. I'm very happy to announe that we have reclaimed our dining room as well. They now keep all of their toys in their room... our guest bath. We're making progress!!!

#Encouragement #Endurance