Matthew 6:25-34 ~ Sufficient for the day. Achieving gratitude

 

Matthew 6:25-34

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, 

and 

all these things will be added to you.

Nevah evah, thought I'd post about our Poodles. And then... you realize you have to make the Post.

It was February of 2019, we were in the emergency room. I had been sitting shoulder to shoulder with a man diagnosed with Pneumonia for about 4 hours. I was sitting, bleeding on the floor.  ER attendants had removed the careful wrap of our good GP Dr. hours earlier. The RN going past said, not to worry, the emergency room had seen blood before.  

We had been taking care of our eldest son's dog, Jackson, who was 14 and dying. We had turned the den into a giant dog playpen. And sat with Jackson to get him comfortable at night and sleepy with the medication.  Our other dog was sad and depressed, too. Beau, the beautiful 7-year-old Springer Spaniel. About 1 AM, I came in to get my slippers and Beau was awakened with Springer Rage. I had been his favorite person, but the next thing, I was calling to Edward, asleep in bed, to rescue me 3 rooms over, quickly, because Beau was shredding my right upper arm and literally hanging from the upper arm muscle. Beau was surrendered for biting and shredding my upper arm, a hip deep bite and a punch on my thigh from his jaw that took 6 weeks to go from black, to purple, yellow and gone.

And that afternoon, I looked out over the parking lot, with pretty trees, from the ER waiting room and went from misery (at my IV needing injury and the shock of loss of my beautiful, beloved Springer) to a glimpse of something far away, bringing great joy.  Something was stirring, God was telling me.  Misery fell far behind, and I noticed how beautiful the trees were.

I told Edward we were not waiting 5 more minutes, of the 4 hours, for an IV and I was going home. We exited.  I wondered what was stirring, as we gladly came home.

In a few weeks, a friend had told me I was just made to have Standard Poodles. And the first dog, who overcame my 4-year-old self fear of dogs, was a Standard Poodle, Springer mix. Sadie. In about March, I was looking for a brown poodle. And discovering this could be a 70 lb dog. 

Then, in Tyler, Texas, a well-known Poodle breeder had 8 puppies. 50 lbs. We were on the road, and time seemed to drag, forever, as we drove there. In came 3 white Poodle Puppies. I knew I wanted all 3. Edward said no, but was most concerned to find this was a Birthday Present from my mother, and I got to say how many Poodles came home. We flipped a coin and I got to pick out the boy and a female. I was surprised to find, on the way home, we had the fraternal sister and not the twin. But the fraternal, was a thrill. She loves everything that is life and seeks fun continually. Yes, God was right, something big had happened. Edward and I were now singing to dogs. The baby dogs slept on our Jackson. Jackson didn't mind.  Big, and hugely, furry Husky meets two small, white Poodles. 

And the Poodles have my father's Birthday. There you go. Smile with me.

When I wake up in the morning, the first thing, after prayer, is to meet Lily. Who is in my face, and has to have her eyes cleared of the gigantic morning goo. 

Now, this is the reason for the Post:

After this small, for a Standard, Poodle has her eyes gently cleaned out, she begins to let me know by kissing both of my hands, how grateful she is. 

She is grateful to see, she is grateful for the day, she is glad for her good life, she loves me, she loves Edward. She kisses me because she has her own Big Brother Poodle. Her Brother Poodle kisses her, since meeting the two, kissy orange, adopted kitty cats. She kisses me because she knows we will play fetch the Tennis Ball.  The kisses flow from gratitude for the daily walks. And the veggies and yogurt with Kibble.  She knows Gummy children vitamins. She kisses me because love flows from her heart. She is the most grateful and happy dog, who finds even when having separation anxiety, that she has her Brother Poodle to have love.  This is a very loving and grateful Pup.

2011 Photo I took on the San Diego Plane Ride

Many people took a photo when I showed Edward. Screaming Poodle.

It was a blurt.

Wooley Booley, Wooley Booooooley

Yes, I cut their hair. 80s Hair Band. And there is always a mistake,

but, hey, in 7 days, Voilà.

This is an everyday event. And on Monday, what struck me, if my sweet Poodle can have so much Gratitude, I should practice this. 

And so, Monday, I began to pray Gratitude Blessings as my Poodle displayed her heart. And I found out, Lily is much more experienced finding Gratitude than I have been practicing.

 

Proverbs 3:3-4

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; 

bind them around your neck; 

write them on the tablet of your heart.

 So you will find favor and good success 

in the sight of God and man.

 

Abba, Father,

Hello, today I discovered my

pup has a lot of Gratitude.

In fact, I was surprised to consider,

prayerfully, how much gratitude she has.

And I hope to grow my Gratitude,

Thanks ability

and notice Gratitude more

often.

Thank You for showing me

how much Gratitude really abounds.

And this month, I will be 

saying Thank You a lot more.

Bless You for

Giving us

Jesus Christ.

We certainly need Jesus.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You Lord Jesus