PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS POST, ALONG WITH MOST OF THE OTHERS WERE WRITTEN 7-10 YEARS AGO. The message is timeless but some references within the posts are outdated and do not apply to current day and time (2023). They were written when I had my other website, Abiding In The Vine. It does not exist any longer.
As you probably know, if you have read any of my recent posts, I have two dachshunds. One is Zuckie, the standard male and Liesel the miniature female. Now some would say … “Oh, they are just like any other dog”. Well, the three of us that live in this house with these two dogs beg to differ with you. Let me explain. But before I do, you may want to read the last two posts about the two. The first one is “THE GREATEST GIFT EVER RECEIVED” and “THE GREATEST GIFT EVER RECEIVED-PART 2”. If you read those, you will understand a little more about this post. Thanks, now, onto this post.
My elderly parents live with me and they love to eat popcorn from time to time while watching TV. Another thing they love to eat is mixed nuts. So the other day my boy, Zuckie, found a piece of popcorn that my dad had dropped on the floor under my dad’s recliner. Dad was not in his recliner the day Zuckie found this piece of popcorn, but mom was in hers. Zuckie picked up this piece of popcorn and took it at the foot of mom’s recliner and set it down and looked up at her intently. He sat there until she looked down at him and asked him what he wanted. Amazingly, he looked down and back up at her with a very intent look. She put the foot of her recliner down and looked on the floor. There was that piece of popcorn he had found under my dad’s recliner. Now why in the world he didn’t go ahead and just inhale it … like he does his food … still astounds my folks and me. She told him he could have it and he very gently picks it up and begins eating it with such a face of glee.
I will reflect back even further briefly here and tell you of a time when we (I) offered to foster a friend’s little 6-month-old Min Pin (Miniature Pinscher) dog and help her with her social skills – which she had NONE! This little thing had NO social skills because for the first part of her life she belonged to my friend’s son and his son lived in a dorm with another one or two boys. Now you can well imagine the poor little thing in there with these boys and the teasing and carrying on she must have endured. The son finally said he couldn’t keep her, and my friend acquired her with no social skills except to bark and whine and bark some more. My friend tells me that one of the traits of Min Pin’s is that they gobble anything that hits the floor. He has had them for many years and so I guess he should know. Well, it was definitely true of this little girl, because she would eat anything that was headed to the floor and sometimes, she caught it mid-air. WOW… she was fast. Also, my dogs that I have now head for the kitchen when they hear someone in there. They stand at your feet just waiting for something to drop and believe me, it does sometimes. So, you see my surprise that Zuckie didn’t just gobble this piece of popcorn up. Except that … he knows what he is not supposed to have. I believe that totally and it is even more solidified with tonight’s event. Read on.
We are all sitting there in the living room watching TV. Zuckie finds something again and goes over to mom’s recliner and lays it on the floor. I see it and tell mom, “Zuckie has brought you something else mom.” Would you believe… no it wasn’t another piece of popcorn but a nut. Yep, dad had dropped a nut from whenever and Zuckie found it tonight. Now, I was thrilled because nuts are not good for dogs. Popcorn, not so bad but a nut is. No, one nut probably wouldn’t hurt him, but I was so glad that he made that choice and we all saw it! WOW… I don’t know another dog in my life or any of my friend’s dogs that would do that! I was so proud of Zuckie. Now on the other hand, if Liesel had found it, I know it would have been down her gullet lickety-split!
OK, so how in the world am I going to compare this? Just keep on a reading and find out.
I know that we as Christians want certain things and some of those things are good for us and some are not so good for us. We really know – in our hearts – what is and what isn’t, I believe. However, sometimes we go to God and ask when we really know the answer. Sometimes we may not even go to God and ask, we just take or do “it” whatever “it” is and ask forgiveness later. That is really not something that makes God’s heart happy, I don’t believe. Although, I have done my share of this myself. Believe me! I have lived for Leah more than I care to remember. However, once I began to realize my problem, I truly asked the Lord to forgive me and restore me unto Himself. You know, He is a faithful and loving God and wishes all His children would come to Him with questions, problems and to ask forgiveness. He is ready and waiting for us to do that. He loves us so much and never wants us to be distant from Him. He wants the relationship between Himself and His children to be close and comfortable, yet He does expect us to pay Him the respect and honor that He deserves. After all, He is God! He is the Creator of everything! He deserves our utmost respect and honor and praise! All the time. There is a song that Jeremy Camp sings called “Revive Me”. I found this song about the same time that God was calling me to be close to Him. Here is the 1st verse and the Chorus. Check it out … it is a powerful song.
Verse 1
Consider my affliction and please deliver me
Plead my cause and redeem me
Salvation is not for the wicked
For they don’t seek Your word
Great are Your tender mercies Lord
Chorus
Revive me, according to Your loving kindness
Revive me, that I may seek Your Word
Revive me, according to Your loving kindness
Revive me, oh Lord
Unfortunately, though, there are consequences that go along with many – if not all – of those “not so wise” choices that we have made in the past without consulting God. But our God is a big God and He can forgive a bunch of stuff, if we come to Him with a truly repentant heart and ask Him for forgiveness. The fellowship with God becomes so sweet and tender when that occurs.
Now my Zuckie got to eat the piece of popcorn, but he did not get to eat the nut. He did, however, get a special treat for being such a good, honest boy. Mom rewarded him well for it. He is always amazing us here at home. He is one special boy. He is NOT just another dog! He looks after my mom and dad when I am not home and brings them great comfort. That in itself is a world of comfort to me. They are always telling me about the antics of my two dachshunds during the day. It keeps them entertained if nothing else, but there is A LOT more to it than that!
I believe that will be the last of the two dachshund stories … at least until one or the other does something else worthy of a post. I appreciate your patience while I share with you a little of the life here at the Adams’ home. It is always something going on here to keep us entertained.
Another thing that is always going on here is the love for one another and the love for our God. He has preserved us through many questionable times, and we praise Him for it. He is a good God and has been so faithful and gracious to this family. I am so grateful for His love for us and all He has brought us through. As you read a few days ago in my post “A NEW BEGINNING” I will be starting a new chapter in my life on Monday the 9th of February. I am looking forward to it with great excitement! I am certain God will show me more ways to share with you in the coming days/weeks/months and years. I am looking forward to see where God takes me in this new chapter. You will be hearing from me about things, I am certain.
Remember God loves you so much and is waiting to hear from you. After all, He calls you His beloved and a Father always loves to hear from His children. Call out to Him today. He’s waiting.
Leah
Le**@My*******.com
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