My Jacks

I have two faithful companions that have gone with me all over the place for the past 10 to 15 years.  Lanie and Mr. Jed.  Two friends who have been resiliently accompanying me in my life.  They have been there when I moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio and then three time in Ohio.  They have gone hiking with me, walking, driving, ate meals with me, watched movies, shared laughter and tears and friendships.  They have greeted friends and strangers alike when I could not get to the door and had a smile and affection for everyone they met. 
I sat in the yard the other day where my Laney is buried and laid a small bouquet of Sage and Lavender on the grassy bed where she rests.  The two spots in my garden she would consistently find moles, rabbits and mice were around my big Sage plants and through the straw mulch around my 200 Lavender plants.  I sat and shared with only the spirit of the forest how beautiful a fall it was and how I missed seeing her and Jed bounce through the beautiful leaves with renewed energy as if the cool fall temperatures brought them new life.  I hope she is running after rabbits in heavens meadows and drinking from cool streams with angels around her to love her and stroke her fur.  I will tell her again about the first snow when it comes.  I will shed more tears as I remember throwing her snowballs to chase after and how they would run down the hill after the tube while we laughed and squealed.  I will miss seeing Mr Jed run as fast as he could through first the snow and take big mouthfuls as he went.  Ears streaming behind him and his little legs just gobbling up the ground, eyes wide open and the biggest smile on his furry face. 
I hope, wherever he his, that he is loved.  That they know he is afraid of thunderstorms and don't get mad at him for it.  That he can still lay in someone's arms and get a belly rub and that he still has a stuffed animal to cuddle up with at night.  I hope they won't leave him outside in the cold this winter and that they are considerate of his teeth and put a little gravy in his food.  I hope they go for walks, rides, runs, and adventures in the woods.  I hope he knows I love him.
Always kind, always forgiving, never judgemental.  Willing to go wherever I wanted to go whenever I wanted to go.  Hearts like lions.  Rottweilers in a Terrier body.  I will forever miss my Jacks.

The Art of Submission

Good Morning! No matter what time of day it is, I welcome you. As I am enjoying a bit of warmer day today, I am also aware of the winter closing in on me. It's kind of a lonely place in a way. The garden, that is. Everything is sleeping and getting ready for the big kick off in a few months! I like to read Psalms when I get a little down or discouraged or even lonely. “Psalms is divided into 5 books…It teaches us so much about God’s eternal love and care for us and how we should trust Him even in the day to day experiences of life.” Quoted from a footnote in my NIV Life Application Bible, which I got for myself during the Women in Missions retreat this past year. You can say, “Yeah, I know. Trust Him with everything.” How many times have you heard it? How often do you APPLY it is the real question! You can say how you have tried and you can even say that you DO trust Him with everything. However, also keep in mind that “He knows the secrets of the heart.” Psalm 44:21b
I would like to challenge you to begin looking for the point of surrender in your heart. To give you a visual, go to your most quiet place and lie down. Not on your back, but on your belly. Face down, hands outstretched, open your heart and let everything go.