Shedding Season

On By Beth AlisanIn Lessons

Today marks the 5th year of my blog. I decided to commemorate this day by reposting the first “Lesson from a Lab” published on WordPress. Thank you to all who have joined Adi and I along the way as we walk each day with the Lord.

Summer.  The season of swimming, cook-outs, vacations and . . .  shedding.  The warmer temperatures trigger my lab and every other dog with a double coat to begin blowing their protective undercoat.  Basically, that means copious amounts of fur are coming off these dogs daily for a period of several weeks.

Coat blowing time arrives with a sign. Adi’s normally smooth coat takes on a ragged look as dead hairs begin poking out every which way.  My suspicion is confirmed by running my hand down her back and ending with a fistful of fur.  If I don’t begin a daily grooming regiment, she’ll be spewing hair all over the place making a mess on everybody and everything.

Grooming Adi takes work.  Her body doesn’t readily hand over that undercoat.  With the use of a curry and pin brush, I have to work to loosen the dead hairs before they’re willing to give themselves up to a slicker brush or comb.  By the end of a grooming session, a nice pile of fur has accumulated and is ready for disposal.  With time and energy Adi’s coat resumes its sleek appearance.

During one of Adi’s grooming sessions, it dawned on me that shedding isn’t exclusive to my dog.  God also calls me into a season of shedding.  Rather than fur, He’s working on me to shed the set of lies that coat my heart and mind. Lies that have grown out of life’s experience.  Lies like I’m insignificant or motherhood isn’t as important as a career.  Lies that get in the way of my ability to love the Lord, love others, and love myself.  Lies that hinder the work God has designed for me to do.  Lies that take work to be removed. 

In His steadfast love, the Lord takes on the job.  Using His Word of truth carried forth by the Bible, Christian writers, lyricists, trusted friends and family, the Lord begins to uproot and remove those lies.  In time a new coat of truth begins to grow in its place. 

Has shedding season come for you?  Is it time for you to blow a coat of lies?  Then I encourage you to turn to the Lord and his Word of truth.

 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32

© 2023, Lessons from a Lab, Beth Alisan.  All Rights Reserved.

41 thoughts on “Shedding Season”

    1. I’m glad you enjoyed the flashback, Pastor Pete. You’ve introduced me to a new dog breed.. Had to look up the elk hound. I imagine your dogs left a lot of elk hound bunnies scooting across the floor to be sucked up by the vacuum cleaner.

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      1. Oh my goodness, our two Elk Hounds could not be allowed upstairs where we had carpets. They lived in the downstairs of our bilevel, where we had a sort of family/great room and our youngrr son’s bedroom. The floor there was painted cement which was easy to sweep. We brushed them a couple times a week with heaps of fur every time.

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  3. Congratulations Beth on 5 years of serving God with your pen/keyboard!
    What a lovely surprise to read your very first post, and like all the others it is a great spiritual lesson to apply to daily life. I remember all too well the summer grooming sessions over the years with many family dogs, Big Kim our Rough Collie was the hairiest by a mile! How much we need to groom ourselves in His Word, that our coat would shine more for Him.
    Thank you sister. May our Father God continue to guide and bless you and your family today 🙏

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  4. I see that your desire and ability to share deep truths with great illustrations hasn’t changed at all from the beginning of your blogging. I’m so thankful for that because your blog is always such an encouragement and challenge to me. God tells us to put away the sins that so easily capture us. May I always let His Word groom me and rid me of my sins I so easily commit. Keep writing, my friend!

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    1. Thank you Patty! Your words mean so very much! Something I didn’t include in the lesson is that my sweet-tempered Adi always gives off a very unhappy growl when she is groomed. I’m afraid I’m a lot like her when the Holy Spirit uses a verse to convict me. I tend to find myself growling at the verse and not receiving it well. I’m trying to be mindful of my growling attitude and be more like Summer who is very cooperative when it comes to being groomed.

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  5. Your first post is just as fresh and helpful as your latest, Beth! You’re one of the most consistent bloggers I follow. We fellow lab lovers know what to expect every time you hit publish. A life lesson from a biblical perspective through the eyes of your beautiful dogs. Here’s to the next five years. It’s also been five for me!

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    1. Thank you David for such kind words! Wow, we started our blogging journey in the same year. Here’s to the next five years for you as well! How has it been going carving out time to write while adjusting to the mental and emotional demands of being an administrator?

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      1. Thank you for asking, Beth. My experiences at school are from a different perspective, but there is still plenty of writing inspiration. There have been so many firsts these past 2 weeks. I hope experiences start to repeat themselves soon.😍

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  6. Congratulations, Beth, on achieving the five-year mark with your blog. I just read recently that most bloggers give it up after 2-3 years. I’m glad you’re still with us! You amaze me with the meaningful lessons you learn from your dogs! This post is no exception. To shed the lies and grow in truth is certainly beneficial to our spiritual life. P.S. Can’t help but think Adi looks pleased that his shedding coat provided enlightenment for us!

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    1. Thank you Nancy for your kind words! That is a fascinating statistic. The meaningful connections made with fellow Christian bloggers like yourself is definitely a beautiful source of encouragement to stay firm in the faith and to keep writing and sharing. And, you are absolutely right. Adi does indeed look pleased with her polished coat.

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  9. Heather Wiskeman-Bowers's avatar Heather Wiskeman-Bowers

    Congratulations on 5 years. Five years of sharing your stories to bless your readers. Each story you write, I feel aligns with my current state. Thank you!

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    1. Thank you Manette! One of the aspects of blogging I never envisioned when I began this journey was the incredible community of Christ followers whom I would meet and whose work, like yours, would be a source of encouragement and inspiration.

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  12. A beautiful illustration, Beth! One that needs constant attention within our own hearts and minds.

    5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5)

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