Chaco slowly walks toward the couch. She knows that dad isn't home and that mom has out the magical zebra blanket. Of course, this could only mean one thing. A nap. YES! She places both front legs onto the couch, slow and methodical (as if I don't see the 65lb dog crawling up in my lap). She has a troubling time hiking her back legs up to the couch, jumping just isn't an option today. Once she's up, she take the usual position - on the side closest to the back pillows (of course) with her nose stuck directly into my armpit. Her body lengthens as her snout is lodged into my left armpit. Slowly, she digs her head so that her entire skull is plummeted underneath the blanket. She sighs. I sigh. I slowly come to terms with the fact that my nap won't be quite as comfortable as planned - Chaco is snoring. Her breathing patterns become soothing and soon I drift off myself.
Tonight, in church, we sang a hymn that was quite familiar to me. "Rock of Ages", heard of it? As I sang the first verse, my dog - of all THINGS, right? - popped into my mind:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in thee
Let the water and the blood
From thy wounded side which flowed.
I had a visual of Chaco literally shoving her nose into my armpit and then taking a big sigh. Oh, how we do the same to our Lord. Let me hide myself in thee. I'm tired, Lord. I'm doubting, Lord. I need rest, Lord. Let me hide myself in thee. I'm anxious, Lord. Let me hide myself in thee. My hope is that you do the same. Allow yourself to become so close to the Lord during those valleys that you can hide in his arms (I suggest not thinking about his armpit, could be a little strange). Our lives are but a vapor. A chasing after the wind, so when those doubting times come into your life, realize that the only rock that you need to hold onto is Christ.
I haven't written in quite a long time because my heart has been dealing with stuff (for a lack of a better word) and writing about it just seemed like it would open a wound that needed to heal. So I strayed away. Christmas passed, New Years, and my birthday. Three very important events that one would deem worthy of blogging. I struggled to find the words to express what was in my heart, so I pushed it aside. BUT! Hallelujah! I'm coming out of this funk. A funk of all funks that was brutal and self-serving. Have you ever caught yourself so involved in, well, you, that nothing else matters? I've had to truly pray that the Lord would place serving opportunities into my life so that I had to focus on others. Focusing on your own junk - It's horrible. Time consuming and dreadfully painful. But, the Lord says that our lives are all vanity. Nothing - not pleasures, careers, wine, or even wisdom (and Solomon was a wise man) - will make your life seem satisfactory. Something is always missing. Only God will bring you that joy that surpasses circumstantial happiness. Joy that lasts through hardships and pain. Joy that gives one hope. How incredibly uplifting, and Lord knows we all need some uplifting.
Mike has his bus route planned for in the morning. A new job! An opportunity to build new relationships, develop new skills, change the lives of kiddos. I am so excited for him and for our family. After months of drought, it finally rained! I'm praying this is a job that Mike can see himself working at for a while - may we grow some roots here and surround ourselves in our community. Yay! Good jobs!
My good friend, Abby, came to visit last weekend. We went snowshoeing - here's a quick video of our dogs bounding in the snow.
I could probably go on forever, but, I do have to work tomorrow. I'll cover my work situation in the next blog. This song has been playing in my head over and over; may it provide the same peace for you as it does for me. Until next time, Love Wins!
