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 

Matthew 11:29-30 ~ I Am

 

Matthew 11:29-30

Take My yoke upon you 

and learn from Me;

for 

I am gentle 

and humble in heart 

and you will find rest for your souls.  

For My yoke is easy

and My burden is

Light.

Lifespan. We love the high numbers and, yet, we are not promised.  What would the Lord say about shorter lives?

James 4:14

Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. 

What is your life? 

For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

How would the Lord and His Heavenly Host find the souls with short lifespans?

Job 38:7

While the morning stars sang together 

and 

all the angels 

shouted for joy

We rejoice in the seasons where the burden is lighter and we all pull together. 

Blessings shared.

As a nation, we have done something in the past that has blessed us all.  Fire Stations accepted children, babies, the little ones when their parents felt they needed to leave them forever.

Locally, during Covid, a baby boy was abandoned at one of our local Fire Station. No questions were asked. And the notice was put in the local paper. Why? One parent might be looking. 

And a few years went by and the local newspaper did a tremendous article and photo of Thanksgiving.  A couple wanted to celebrate their son was now 3 years old. They had been unable to have children together and the baby left, graciously and generously, at the local Fire Station had been legally adopted in time to celebrate his 3rd Birthday. The parents wanted to share their joy in the mother's decision to safely leave her son to be cared for. 

The Fire Station reported the find in the article and said at first shock. And then hope. And now joy. 

This is a longtime tradition in Texas. 

Gladney Adoption in Fort Worth since 1887

In 1887, the first "Orphan Train" from the northeast. The Orphan Train Movement transported roughly 200,000 children from the northeast throughout the Midwest and as far west as Texas.  And these children were helped with increasing determination to be placed in a family, and Gladney Adoption was created.

Today, often the children placed up for adoption at Gladney are families with too many children who want their latest pregnancy to be adopted to someone Gladney helps. Gladney

creates adoption books, where hopeful parents explain with art and photos of their heart for a child they cannot conceive together. And sometimes the prospective parent(s) looking for an adoptive family also create an art book of dreams for their unborn child.

In August, 2024

Houston had 2 weeks in a row where infant babies were found abandoned in isolated places.  We have forgotten our victories and how blessed we would all feel to reclaim this again. 

This week, Sioux Falls, SD also found an infant baby boy. The First Responders did what they could.

Now, Pennsylvania has had a huge increase in IVF Billboards. More Anger and disagreements.

There isn't a need to have IVF disagreements.  

In vitro fertilization, a complex series of procedures, can lead to pregnancy. A treatment for infertility.

The people I know who have experienced IVF find it is the most time of tears they have ever experienced. Not everyone can carry a full term infant. It used to be $40,000 dollars even 25 years ago. 

This is when people with tears can comfort others. People who can't carry to term, could contribute to the IVF of people who cannot afford IVF.  And instead of a useless, hurtful debate on frozen embryos labeled only as human beings, we could create families. Where women who want to be mothers help one another. And fathers prepare art books with their hopes and dreams. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of mercies 

and God of all comfort 

Who comforts us in all our affliction,

 so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, 

with the Comfort

 with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, 

so through Christ 

we share abundantly 

in Comfort too.

I can only see Jesus embracing a Love where Love fully hopes to produce Life and Joy. And that Life to be shared in dreams and in hopes and in a widening circle of Family. Life, Love. Faith. Joy.

We could help one another instead of arguing. Bring Love forth.

Foster and Adopt

In fact, Love can be shared with older babies and children as well. Families live far apart. So many children these days would love a family to care for them in Foster Families. The Foster organizations cope with babies born and simply left in hospitals. Adoptions, plentiful.

Why should we allow Love to be pushed aside to animal shelters. No one wants to see an infant abandoned. More Love. More Help. Less arguing. 

2 Thessalonians 2:14-17

To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
  
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Exodus 22:22-24

You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 

If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, 

I will surely hear their cry

 John 14:18 

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

 Isaiah 1:17 

 Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; 

bring justice to the fatherless, 

plead the widow's cause. 

 Psalm 82:3 

 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; 

maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. 

Abba, Father,

Praise the LORD, 

O my soul; 

all 

my inmost being

Praise His Holy Name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,

and 

forget not all His benefits -

Who forgives all your sins

and 

heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you 

with love and compassion

The Crown of Life

is just revealed to be

Love and Compassion

Help us, Father,

Helper

and Comforter.

With Your Help, 

we will look to the Windows of Heaven in our life 

and see a blessing overflow 

believing all things work together 

for those who Love You.

With Your Help for ourselves and the ones we love, 

our prayer concerns. 

We will act justly

 and to love mercy

 and to walk humbly with You, our God.

Dwell in me,

Dwell in us,

Dwell in those we Love,

Help us to seek You first.

And we will finish well, in Jesus Christ. 

Help us find and bring

to become

 more Heaven

to this earth.

And the Nations of the world,

Your Good Creation,

Calling upon You.

In Jesus Christ is 

Our Love, Joy and Hope.

Bless those working for

Post Pandemic Healing

and Care.

Bless us all, 

worldwide

with Healing

Safety

Prosperity and

Peace.

Worldwide

Peace!

We ask healing

of Your Good Creation

The fullness of the earth is Yours.

The healing of those we pray for

in our heart and soul.

The safety of Your people.

The safety of those

helping the earth 

to heal.

Let evil and practicing evil

depart far from us

and our children.

The Healing

of the Nation.

Wholeness

Holy.

Goodness.

And in Jesus - this Hope, 

Faith and Love - we will rise up believing Jesus. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You, Jesus

†