Subtle Signs

On By Beth AlisanIn Lessons

I blinked, and August came and went.  Somewhere in there we squeezed in one last trip to see grandparents, celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary,  kicked off cross-country season, visited the orthodontist for the last child to get her braces off, saw my husband embark on another year of teaching and coaching, celebrated my birthday, started one child in her junior year of homeschooling, transitioned our other child into her freshman year at a private school, and navigated some major ministry events in my job. If your head is spinning having read all that, then you understand the kind of August it was.

In it all, I did find sweet moments of reprieve woven into my daughter’s cross-country practices.  After dropping her off with the team, I parked the truck, offloaded our Labs, and headed out on very, very long walks.  It was on one of those walks that the verse, “cast your burdens on the Lord and He will sustain you” popped into my mind (Psalm 55:22).

“Lord, I’m handling it all pretty well.  I haven’t had a migraine and am sleeping great.  My stomach isn’t giving me grief, and my back doesn’t hurt.  See, I haven’t let this crazy schedule burden me. Right?” was my response.  That was when I looked over at the two Labrador’s trotting beside me and had a reality check. 

Adi and Summer are both loving, loyal, and incredibly attentive dogs.  They sense our emotions and deeply feel any changes to their routine.  Over the month, I had to keep a close eye on them both for signs of stress.  The signs are subtle.  Adi shows stress by panting and licking her lips, while Summer becomes even springier. Once identified we need to intervene or stress vomiting will inevitably begin. 

Lifting the burden for my Labs differs depending on the dog.  For Adi, I need to mindfully keep her close to my side and shower her with extra love and assurance.  I must also keep a bandana sprayed with a pheromone called Adaptil tied around her neck.  Summer, on the other hand, needs more outdoor stimulation. Whether that’s more rounds of retrieving or more opportunity to lay on the porch watching the world turn.

After considering Adi and Summer, I began to analyze my own subtle signs of stress.  Like, laughing less. Submerging myself in a TV show rather than a book.  Finding tears of exhaustion silently rolling down my cheeks. Becoming the elusive spotted leopard to those accustomed to my presence. These subtle signs were clear indicators that the little cares of the month had indeed grown into one big burden I was backpacking myself. It was going to exact a toll if I continued to carry it much longer.

In His graciousness, the Lord had offered me a burden-lifting hand on that afternoon walk.  This offer is for you as well.  Why?  He cares for us so much and has given an open invitation to cast any care, no matter how small, on Him (1 Peter 5:7).  By accepting His help, He promises to sustain us and keep us from falling.  (Psalm 55:22).  He also promises that when we come to him, shedding our earthly burdens, and taking His heavenly yoke, we will find rest for our souls.  (Matthew 11: 28:30)

Dear Reader, may you too be watching for those subtle signs of stress and be prompted to cast the burden you are carrying on the Lord so you can enjoy His rest.

“In prayer all my worldly cares, fears, anxieties disappear, and are of as little significance as a puff of wind . . .

In prayer I can place all my concerns in thy hands to be entirely at thy disposal . . .

Help me to be all prayer and never to cease praying.”

-The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions edited by Arthur Bennett, 1975

© 2024, Lessons from a Lab, Beth Alisan.  All Rights Reserved.

17 thoughts on “Subtle Signs”

  1. I’m thankful that I looked at this blog that somehow I missed reading. I know lately more than ever that I am showing some of those signs of stress that you mentioned. I know that I am tired in several areas. Your scriptural reminders are a blessing to me, Beth. Thank you!

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  2. “To do good work a man should be industrious. To do great work he must certainly be idle as well”–Henry Ward Beecher. Time and time again I have skipped rest in order to “be more productive.” But production suffers when I’m too tired to think well. I’m much better off taking a break, refreshing myself, and then returning to the task at hand. Your walks in the woods may not be categorized as physically restive, Beth, but they certainly refresh mind and spirit. Good choice! (After all, you could bring your computer along to cross-country practices and work in the car!)

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  6. Whew! You had a month! So did I — with both our daughters leaving for school and our house emptying out — and I appreciated the wisdom of this post. Our Finn dog has responded to extra walks and snuggles. I have responded to recarpeting… 😁 God is good!

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  9. It’s so easy to tell ourselves, “Everything is fine.” But those closest to us often know better—like God and dogs.
    My current role as an educational administrator involves plenty of peace making, with students, parents, and teachers. By God’s grace, I manage, but the experiences can be emotionally draining. Your “leopard blending” fits my reaction to a T. This gregarious people person becomes a “cave dweller” for a few hours.
    It’s always like a breath of fresh air to read a new post from you, Beth. God Bless! Doggie hugs to Adi and Summer. 🐾🐾🐾🐾

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