"The sheep listen to his [the shepherd’s] voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” -John 10:3 With fall colors beginning to emerge and the temperatures cooling, I decided to take my Lab for a long morning hike. Pulled forward by the rich smells of the trail, Adi moved a fair …
"...Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." -Philippians 4:8 Sometimes it takes owning a Lab to realize how many twigs, sticks, and branches a tree sheds on a daily basis. For Adi, tree debris is a source …
Dogs have a natural inclination to chew. Fortunately, our Lab falls into the category of moderate chewer. This means she doesn’t immediately destroy what she chews. Nor will she chew on just anything. Once Adi passed the puppy teething phase, she selected a deer antler as her chew of choice. Slow and methodical are the …
A year ago today, I began this blogging journey. I am grateful for each one of you who have faithfully read these monthly lessons. Your responses are truly a gift. One unexpected blessing of this journey has been the people I’ve met along the way. Fellow dog lovers who have stopped to meet Adi and …
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."- Colossians 4:2 For years the discipline of prayer alluded me. I desired a more diligent prayer life. If you’ve ever seen the movie “War Room” than you know what I wanted. I read scriptures on prayer, completed Bible studies on the topic, and even purchased a fancy prayer …
Labs love. A simple, yet true alliteration. They love their family, the neighbors, kids (especially ones with traces of breakfast still on their face), and the random person walking at the park. In Adi’s mind, people are made to be greeted. Ignoring people is NOT in Adi’s DNA. So, it won’t come as a surprise …
Continue reading Social Distancing- My Lab- Unintended Consequences
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea [despite the chaos and storms of life swirling around us]." -Psalm 46: 1-2, [Italicized words by author unknown] When trouble brews in your dog’s …
“. . . Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Johsua 1:9 The early morning light cast a golden glow over the countryside. The frost covered fields and barren trees were still enveloped in the stillness that comes with a cold winter’s night. …
Meet Adi’s older brother Graham. While Adi is glossy black like their father, Graham has the yellow hues of their mother. He’s a friendly fellow who on more than one occasion has taken on the title of “runaway.” Graham’s decision to wander from his established boundaries is puzzling, as he has so many reasons to …
(One thing five weeks of abiding by stay-at-home orders has taught me is that loneliness has many dimensions. I hadn’t planned on sharing a second lesson this month. Only as I was filing papers into my writing binder, I came across this lesson written last fall. It spoke words I needed to be reminded of …
