Tuesday, May 20, 2014
TOTT Today: Golden Retrievers and their GOLDEN MOMENTS.
TOTT Today: Golden Retrievers and their GOLDEN MOMENTS.: From Detroit, St Louis, Chicago to Seabrook Island we have experienced those called "Golden Moments." ...
Golden Retrievers and their GOLDEN MOMENTS.
From Detroit, St Louis, Chicago to Seabrook Island we have experienced those called
"Golden Moments."
A righteous man regards the life of his animal.
Proverbs 12:10
There is a pounce that shakes the
bed; a wet kiss is freely offered; and I am aroused into reality that my
lovable eighty-five pound Golden Retriever Moses has issued my wake-up call. He
is my happy-go-lucky guy whose fun-loving personality is contagious, as people
always want to stop and give him pat or a scratch behind the ear as he leans
into their affectionate touch.
This is the personality of a Golden Retriever that I have loved through
the years while raising four of them. As puppies, they are irresistible fluffy rag mops always
ready for cuddling and eventually growing into obedient and mellow adult dogs
that are faithful to his or her master to the end. Wait a minute, did I say
obedient and mellow? Hold on a
minute, what about those moments when their
happy–go-lucky persona over rides their thought process? Or when their sassy
attitude will torment you to point of just wanting to scream? These are occasions that I
affectionately call “those golden moments.”
Our present Golden Moses has provided a few moments of
his own. He is a lover boy but
frustration can abound when this “Big Guy” acts as if he is a defiant frat
boy. He loves to roll in anything
from the sandy beach covering his whole body with sand to the unspeakable
animal poops and is proud to wear the scent. As a puppy his big game was rolling in mud holes in the yard
to the point of being incognito. Asserting his happy-go-lucky personality, one
day he decided to prove his manly physique by moving the woodpile one by one
across the yard. Only problem he forgot to restack the wood. Of course, he
continues to provide “golden moments,” as he tries to live up to his frat boy
rank.
Finally, there are poignant “golden moments” that touch deep into
the soul. Such a moment happened with our dog Sunshine. She was my daughter’s
so called dog and we got her when Laura was ten years old. At that time Laura asked,
“How long will Sunny Live?” I promised she would see her graduate from college
and Sunshine did. Laura had a love/hate relationship with her.
Sunshine loved to torment her by stealing her clothes and running rings around
her or jumping on her as Laura screamed, “Mommy get her off, I don’t like this
dog!” As they both grew older,
Sunshine mellowed becoming a constant comfort and loyal buddy to Laura
particularly through Laura’s kidney cancer and recovery. Sunny spent her time
attentively by my daughter’s side as if this dog knew it was her personal
mission to see Laura through this awful period. Sunshine often placed her head
on Laura’s lap giving her a smile that only a Golden can offer saying “ Please
get well and will you forgive me for all the times I tormented you?” --- a
peace offering that quickly makes those “Golden Moments” melt away.
TOTT
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for our opportunity to care and to oversee the beasts and animals of the earth. Our pets bring great joy into our hearts and it is our hope we can care for these wonderful companions to the best of our ability.
Amen.
Commitment Today:
If you don't have a dog or cat, donate time, money or energy to a animal shelter.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Little did they know the power and the spunk that this simple bucket-style red hat has just given this elderly woman---it is her symbol.
The Red Hat
Have I not commanded you? Be
strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord
your God is with you were ever you go.
Joshua 1: 9
NKJV
Her knees are so feeble and her
hips not squarely fitting her body causing her gait to be slow and even laborious.
She knows the challenge it will be to walk down the wooden steps for a beach
walk. The undertaking of this walk will cause every muscle and bone in her body
to ache as she completes the mission at hand. It is a task that will take much
fortitude but she wants so much to stroll the beach one more time. So they flop
her “red hat” upon her head for protection from the sun; carefully she places her
body into the convertible; and the crew speeds towards the beach. Little did they know the power and the
spunk that this simple bucket-style red hat has just given this elderly
woman---it is her symbol.
God is with us where ever we go.
He knows your needs and will work in you and through you. He sees our
weaknesses and gives reassurance to us to get through the challenge. He feels our fears and offers to empower
us. The God of All will give us strength to climb any mountain, ford any stream
or even the task of ambling down the stairs of the boardwalk. There may be
obstacles to keep us from clearly seeing the pathway but the Almighty expects
us to be strong and of good courage.
The beach walk is accomplished
and the old lady returns to the cottage with a smile on her face and the
satisfaction that she has walked the beach, stairs and all. She knows where her
strength always come from---The Almighty! The woman places her red hat on the
hat rack, never again to wear it but leaving it behind as a symbol of determination,
true grit, and courage --- This is how my mother has lived her whole life. TOTT
Dear Heavenly Father,
I want to thank you for my mother. Please bless my mother filling her
with your Divine Grace. I pray for
all the mothers in my life asking you to guide and bless them. I praise You for
my motherhood. It is a blessing to
be a mother. Amen
Commitment for Today: Mothers are such a blessing, pray for your mother
and tell her how much you love her on this special Mother’s Day
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