
Good morning, DearHeart.
This is Samson the Rottweiler. Luke got Samson late in the summer … full of puppy life, and he stole our hearts. Then, a series of unexpected events from a parasite, to swallowing a stupid chicken bone, then Parvo – the COVID of canines – took his health (and us, and Dr. Booth) through the ringer. It took nearly two months of … pretty much total care …. eleven days in the hospital, syringe feeding and watering at home… driving home from work at noon to poke more water and chicken bone broth down his throat, laying him in the yard hoping he’d get up and do his business. Sometimes he was just too weak.
The days he would give up, we didn’t.
The days we were sure “this is the day”, then he would rally.
During the early fall, I couldn’t believe I was sleeping in the recliner all night again with a baby … dog! I thought those days were over 20+ years ago.
Even my Mom, who is not a dog lover, but loves us fiercely, was among the daily calls … “what about Samson, is he still hanging on today?”
At 16 weeks, the average rotttweiler pup weighs 45-50 lbs. Sam weighed ten.
T. E. N.
At week 17, he had gained a half pound. Then, a full pound the next week.
Some days he slept all day.
Some days he had life, but he was getting stronger and stronger.
He had a few set backs.
In November, he started acting like a pup again and his Rottie personality started coming back.
Now, mid-January, he is spoiled, rambunctious, eating and making up for all the meals he missed.
Because we had staying power, stayed the course, fortitude, stick-to-it-iv-ness, and a God of miracles, we arrived at victory.
The Psalmist reminds us:
“You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by GOD. You’re blessed when you follow His directions, doing your best to find Him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road He set. You, GOD, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course You set.”
Psalm 119:1-4 MSG
As believers, we are called to ‘staying-power’ when the world goes bizerk. Especially, now.
So many miracles unfold from chaos. Even now.
That’s why, in adversity, I can still stand amazed in the presence.
His presence.
I’ve experienced His goodness.
Here we are God’s groundwork has been laid in you and me.
No matter what comes, supernatural provision has been arranged.
Life nudges on through alarm clocks and coffee, through ailments and scars, and little victories dotting the way.
When we check our reserves for compassion, preparation matters. Because, when we are happy we are singing, but when the day comes, and we take hit after hit and we need one more ounce of fortitude, then, we need to know that the stores we have laid in can deliver that one. more. ounce.
Here’s the deal, we don’t need to forgive, until we are in a place where we need to forgive.
We don’t need racks of courage until we need courage is in demand.
And, we don’t need extra masses of compassion or strength or faith until everything we’ve got has been all used up.
This is why you and I stay in constant contact with the God of the Universe. We seek Him, and we find Him. We find Him ever more so when uncertainty, tragedy, the unthinkable comes.
We call on Christ,
we call on His people,
His beings,
the seen and the unseen,
and in preparation,
we. meet. the. day.
We are ready.
Wake up.
Meet the day.
Keep your reserves in check.
God is still in control.
Go.