Lessons from Lucy

Push, pull, drag, lurch, tug, yank. This describes my walk with my dog, Lucy, yesterday. By the time we got home I was so aggravated that I found myself severely scolding her about what a bad dog she was and how it's not worth it to take her on walks anymore.

I was bothered later about how I reacted so severely to my sweet, rather dopey dog and how I had done it in front of my fifteen month old son. I don't want him to see me "barking" at the dog more than she barks at me. So there I sat, feeling guilty and not knowing what to do about it and, out of the blue, God showed me a picture in my mind.

In my relationship with Him, I often push, pull, drag,etc...trying to get Him to follow me rather than the other way around. The difference is, I know better. Lucy, bless her heart, has not been properly trained to follow me when she's on her leash. She doesn't know that she's not supposed to be the one leading. It's her nature to run ahead unless I specifically train her not to.

In my case, God is the Leader and I know this. So when I choose to try to go off in different directions, it causes me pain. He doesn't change the path for me, He expects me to follow where He's leading. The problem is that I, like Lucy, want to run ahead to see what's coming or I get distracted by something over here, so I lurch to the side, or I want to yank back and check out what's behind me. I'm impatient to just follow along and yet, that's the only way He'll have it and the only way I can live in peace.

Ugh! Don't cha just hate it when God uses everyday annoyances to teach you a lesson? Just so you know, I apologized to Lucy with a good belly scratch and, like always, she was instantly forgiving. Ah, another lesson I can learn from her. Dang it!

HAPPY 4th OF JULY

I love 4th of July. It's what marks the beginning of summer and permission to eat all of the watermelon and homemade ice cream that I want, go swimming, and where flip flops.

I have so many great memories from my childhood of going to parades and shooting off fire crackers. As I write this, my neighborhood sounds like a war zone. Fire works are illegal in Colorado Springs because of the fire danger, but it never seems to stop folks from celebrating. I don't promote breaking the law, but I have to admit, I love hearing all of the crackles, pops, whistles and flares.

On this particular day, every year, I feel patriotic. I love hearing the choreographed music that is played along with the big fire works shows and as much as I am SO sick and tired of Lee Greenwoods, "Proud to be an American" song, on this particular day I don't mind so much. I get a little lump in my throat when they play it as the finale along with all of the big booms and beautiful showers of red, white and blue.

I am proud of our country, even with all of our flaws. I love our freedom and I pray God will continue to bless us with that. I can't wait until next year when Morgan will be old enough to participate and have fun with all of the 4th of July traditions. We had a great day of eating watermelon and ice cream and playing outside and he is sleeping peacefully now, even with all of the hoopla going on. However you celebrated our independance today, I hope it will bring lasting memories for you and your family.