We are deep into puppy training starting week three...
Don’t chew on mommy. Eat only your food, not Benny’s food. Your tummy can’t take his food. Don’t pee or poop in the house. Yes the grass is okay to do your business. I know, the grass gets wet sometimes in the morning but it is okay to do your business there. Okay, I will hold you after because you are cold. No, Rocco doesn’t want to jump and play first thing in the morning. He needs his space. Yes, your new treats are yummy, aren’t they? No, thank you I really don’t want to share them. Daddy is your friend too and takes you out every morning. Yes, he is excited to see you too at the end of the day and loves your kisses too.
But what I didn’t know was God was training me too - through
Gabriel…
Slow down. You don’t need to run that fast ahead of me.
Gabriel loves to run ahead of everyone. He doesn’t know the dangers around the corner. I am here to protect him when we are outside
doing our business. Hawks and other predators
are waiting to pick up his tiny three-pound self as a morning snack. I am his protection. God reminded me – He is my protection. Slow down.
Stop trying to get ahead of His Plans.
He knows what is best for me. Even
when I think I am running behind, I must remind myself, GOD is never late. He
is just in time. I need to slow down and
just breathe. Then take deliberate
steps. His steps. Not mine.
Don’t jump off that bed. You are not superman.
Gabriel loves to run to the end of the bed and do a Houdini and
slide down between the comforter and the footboard. He doesn’t see the danger in his action, and
I have to grab him before he tries the superman feat. He also tries to jump off the front retaining
wall where Benny jumps daily, and Gabriel’s young legs are not ready just yet. God reminded me of the many times I tried to
do things I wasn’t ready for yet. “I got
this Lord!” I would say as I tried something on my own, or in my own strength. Each time I did that, it ended – spectacularly
– horribly. God reminded
me how silly I looked to Him as I played ‘superman’ on my own. “Yes Lord…I get it.”
Take time outs.
We all need them.
Each day we give the other puppies a break from each other
and Gabriel a break time in his crate.
He wasn’t happy at all with me at that moment. The other dogs, however, are happy with
me. They get a break from the
hyperactive puppy and a little attention from mom. Gabriel gets a nap and some quiet time. He is refreshed after his nap and ready to
play again afterwards. Everyone is ready
to play again. God reminded me once
again – we all need time outs. Even
me. Take them. Or He will give them to me. I am more refreshed when I do take time for
me. I appreciate time with my Heavenly
Father when I take my ‘time outs’. I
get away from the distractions of the world.
I can hear Him clearly. I don’t
miss the small things when I am being still…
Mom (Dad) knows best.
Even when we think we do.
Gabriel LOVES all the foods and treats! He Loves his food. He Loves Benny’s food. He Loves Dad’s food. ANY Food and ALL Food! When he finishes his food in his dish,
Gabriel immediately bee lines to Benny’s dish to try and sneak a bite of his
food too. I am the house monitor to guide
him back to his dish as he is learning his place. He tries again and then learns through Benny’s
growl that he has overstepped his boundaries.
“I told you honey that your dish is Your dish. You can’t share Benny’s food.” Gabriel looks at me as if to say, “But mom, I
know best. I should get his food too.” As much as Gabriel ‘thinks’ he knows best, we
all know too much of a good thing isn’t good for him. And taking another dog’s food is a recipe for
disaster. He learned quickly that wasn’t
a good idea too. I was there to solve
the problem. Mom knows best.
I have stepped into places I didn’t belong when I thought I ‘knew
best’. After licking my wounds, God was
there to pick up the pieces and reminded me – He knows best. I had to learn the hard way. Don’t we all sometimes? But the older I get… Well, I still stumble.
But I am grateful for His mercy and grace.
AND that He is there to call on daily because I am not much
different that Gabriel…
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be
exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalms 46:10
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me
were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Psalms 139:16
I wait for the Lord , my whole being waits, and in his word
I put my hope.
Psalms 130:5
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