I Just Don't Understand.

As most of you know, we have a dog named Bo. Because of Bo, I now understand the saying, "A dog is a man's best friend." I also understand the saying, "I wish I could be the person my dog thinks I am." 

Bo loves to be with me. When I'm working at my desk, Bo is at my feet. Most of the time, he lays on my feet. When I am reading on my lounge chair, he lays beside me. When I leave the house, Bo loves to go with me. 

Bo always wants to go with me but unfortunately, it isn't always safe for him to go with me. For example, today I was going to downtown Honolulu for several appointments and had to be gone until after noon. Bo believes he should always be able to go with me. I can't explain to him why he can't sit in the hot car for four hours while I am at appointments. All he knows is, he wants to go with me. He doesn't understand that I am keeping him safe at times, by refusing to allow him to go with me. He will never understand because my thoughts are higher than his thoughts. 

His face was so sad today when I was leaving and made him go back inside the house. He drooped his eyes, lowered his head, put his tail between his legs, and slowly walked away. His bone in his mouth (looking like a binkie) completed his pitiful look. 

He could not understand that my refusal to allow him to go was actually a decision to keep him safe.

This reminded me of a conversation I recently had with a very close friend. It is the same conversation I've had with numerous other people throughout the years. My friend was going through a very hard time and she asked me, "Is what I'm going through an attack from the enemy…or am I out of the will of God?" I'm sure we've all asked that question.

So many times, we want to go somewhere or do something but it never comes to fruition. And so many times, we just don't understand. 

It's times like this that we determine to trust the Creator of the universe and accept that His ways are far beyond anything we can imagine. The next time we want to do something that just doesn't pan out, we cannot droop our eyes, lower our head, and put our tail between our legs. No. We must trust God and His ways, knowing He is working all things together for our good! (Romans 8:28) 

Father, I pray for every reader right now. In the name of Jesus, I pray You illuminate their hearts to Isaiah 55:8-9 so that the next time they are faced with a situation they just don't understand, that they will determine to trust You and rest in knowing You always work all things together for their good. Thank You Father! I also ask that You bless them and keep them, make Your face to shine upon them and be gracious to them! Lord, please lift up Your countenance upon them and give them peace! (Numbers 6:22-27) I thank You for giving me the confidence to know, when I ask anything according to Your will, You hear me. And when You hear me, You answer me! (1 John 5:14-15)

Sit AND Hold It

Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the LORD your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him. (Deuteronomy  11:22)

I have a wonderful dog, Bo. He is considered a large breed weighing over 80 pounds. Bo loves to take walks. We live in an area that requires all animals be on a leash. When Bo hears his leash, he gets so excited, spins in circles, and has difficulty sitting down and holding that position in order for me to put the leash on him. 

While he is in a tail spin, he isn't listening so I refuse to wrestle with him. I could grab his neck, swing the leash on him (after several attempts) and that process would work but it would only serve to wear me out and hype him up further. Been there. Done that. It's almost like roping a calf. When he came to live with us, he had been wonderfully trained so he knows the commands. In his frenzied state, he doesn't always want to adhere to the commands.


When I have a treat in my hand, he will hold it (His sitting position.) for as long as I stand there so I know he has the ability to sit and hold it. 

Instead of wrestling his leash on him, I use a different approach. I pick up the leash. He turns in circles. I say, "sit and hold it". His bottom hits the floor for .2 seconds and he is up spinning in circles again. I say, "sit and hold it". He sits again for a few seconds, whines, stretches, and starts spinning again. 

After several verbal commands, I give him the hand signal (American Sign Language) for sit and hold it. Now he knows I'm serious because I've stopped talking. I will not take him on his walk until he follows through with the commands. I refuse to confuse him with a different approach daily. I hold to original training because consistency is critical as to not confuse him. Finally, he decides to sit and hold it, patiently, while I calmly place the leash on him. I can't do anything productive with him as long as he is spinning around in a frenzy. 

Currently, in our world, we are seeing things happen that has never been seen before and oftentimes our flesh wants to throw us into a tail spin. It is more important now than ever to be still, walk in His ways and hold tightly to Him. We must refuse the tailspin!

Consider this, just as I refuse to wrestle with Bo as long as he is in a tailspin, could it be the LORD waits for us to sit AND hold it? 

A New Thing is Springing Up!

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. Isaiah 43:19-21

Several months ago, we decided to get a rescue dog. (A rescue dog is a dog that has been rescued from possible euthanasia after being found as a stray, a dog that has been saved from an abusive or neglectful home by an animal rescue organization such as the RSPCA in the UK or the ASPCA in the USA, or a dog that is simply no longer wanted or can no longer be cared for by its owner. Thank you Wikipedia!)

We decided we wanted a very small, female, lap dog. You know…a girlie dog…a puffy, foofoo dog…not a “man” dog. We started our search. We looked online. We visited every humane society on the island…except one, only because that one is over an hour away.

After several weeks of searching, during a visit at the Hawaii Humane Society, I asked God, “What dog would you have us choose?” I felt a pull to look to the left and I made eye contact with a dog that was larger than we had initially decided on. And he was a male. And he was a “man” dog. I immediately thought, “Can that be right?”

There were several dogs in the same area. There was another dog in the same kennel with this dog but there was a distinct leading for us to get this one particular dog. I walked around the kennel and continued to pray. Again, I made eye contact with the same dog. I knew this was the right dog; however, what God had planned was way beyond what I could ever ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

We took him home and found him (Bodhi) to be very intelligent, calm, and exceptionally loving to people of all ages. Several weeks after bringing Bodhi home we began thinking he had more potential than we had ever imagined. I wanted to maximize Bo’s potential to help others. I began doing research to learn what possibilities were available. I was determined! I thought, if a program is not available, I will create a program! Through research I learned dogs can work in many capacities.

Then I came across an article written by Steve Reiman that stated, “For long-term elders, is it not so much the stress of daily problems, but the boredom, loneliness, and lack of control.” My immediate thought was, “Boredom and loneliness? That is something we can change!”

After several phone calls, a meeting was arranged for Bo to be evaluated. He is now a Therapy Visitation Dog and is a registered employee of the Hawaii Humane Society. We report for duty at a long term care facility next month!

We are also working on our Canine Good Citizen Certification. And we will further our education and expand as He leads. (Psalm 37:23)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canine_Good_Citizen

Check out our Facebook fan page! Please feel free to share so that we can build a network of Therapy Dogs to help one another to gain information, support, and insight.

http://www.facebook.com/KeyTovDOGography

A powerful aspect of this is…when we adopted our dog, we just thought we were getting a pet. However, God was answering prayer! I had been tempted to feel like I was missing where God was leading me and believing I was getting left behind. I was getting bored and lethargic. Praise God we live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Praise God, His timing is always perfect. I know I am created to do more than I had been doing. I had checked into several “ministries” but nothing seemed to click. But Luke 16;10! My spiritual momma said, “Isn’t it just like God to use a dog to answer prayer?!” (Isaiah 55:9) 

Ask-Seek-Knock and it will be answered!

It doesn’t matter to me how He brings about His plan, I just want to be a part of it! (Deuteronomy 12:7)

Many of you reading this are walking in His perfect plan for your life. Some are still searching. Here is something to ponder…

What is God’s new thing for you? 

It’s welling up! 

Perceive it! 

He’s making a way! 

Proclaim His praise!