“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”—Titus 3:5-7
I adopted a dog a few days before Christmas last year. After losing my sweet fur baby, Zoey, in June, my remaining pup, Zeek. needed companionship. With Zoey gone, he was beginning to have anxiety attacks, tearing up my carpet, chewing my door frames, constantly bloodying his feet. Zoey was all he’d ever known, and he was distraught without her. I knew how he felt, so my heart went out to him.
When I began talking about getting another dog, my daughters-in-law and granddaughter surprised me with a rescue tour. They took me to a few dog rescue places, and everyone agreed that one female in particular stood out. Her sweet disposition and gentleness towards my granddaughter told me she’d be the perfect fit. I filled out the paperwork to indicate I was choosing her as my own, and we welcomed Ida Mae to the family.
Thus began her transformation from orphan to family member.
I thought it might be hard because I found out she’d been in at least two previous homes that the facility could account for. She had been picked up wandering the streets. As my boys put it, she’d been living on the streets and in the pen, so I might want to ease her into the process of coming to my home.
When she first arrived, she was timid. Zeek wasn’t quite sure what was going on and gave her a bit of a hard time. She humbly turned away any time Zeek challenged her, even though she outweighs him by 30+ lbs. But Zeek quickly learned that Ida Mae was a sweetheart, so he laid down his tough-guy act.
Even though Zeek let her move through the house unchallenged, Ida Mae remained hesitant to leave the great-room portion of the house. There was a basket of dog toys at her level, but she would only sniff at it. I bought her two dog beds—one in the laundry room where she’d be sleeping and one by the sofa so she could be near us during the day. Even so, she only used the one in the laundry room at night and preferred to lay by the door during the day.
She had a good appetite when her food bowl was filled, but—unlike my Zeek—she would not sit by me when I was eating. She never begged or even looked like she was asking for anything additional to what was put in her bowl.
As the days passed and she began to understand my heart for her, she started to trust me. I gave her affection, was gentle with her and talked to her. I wanted her to know she was more than invited, she was joyfully received. The more time we spent together, the more relaxed she has become. I have good things for her, and it gives me a sweet joy to love on her.
She now gets toys out of the basket and plays with them. I laugh out loud when she gets super excited, tucks her tail, and makes a mad dash through the house. She eats the food in her bowl, Zeek’s bowl, and even the secret bowl I made for Zeek so he’d actually get something to eat each day. I’ve had to cover my sofas with blankets because she very rarely lays in her beds, preferring to lay on my sofas! And she loves the occasional handout from the table.
She’s home. No longer an orphan. I have stepped up and spoken for her. I’ve brought her into my heart and into my home. And the most important part about this is that she let me.
It may seem like she didn’t have a choice, because we have authority over animals, but she didn’t have to let me love her. She could still be sleeping by the door, ignoring her toy box, and eating only the food portioned for her, thinking that was all she deserved. Or perhaps she might have thought it’s all the same, people are going to change, and then she’d be back on the street.
But she made the choice to receive all that I offered. She made herself vulnerable to believe I am for real even in the midst of vet visits and shots. Even when she’s asking for more food in her bowl, but I know she’s had plenty. Even when she’s digging a hole in the yard and I give her a sharp command to stop. She hasn’t discredited my goodness based on my authority over her. She still seeks me out to rub her and wags her tail every time she sees me.
There is no longer any difference between Zeek’s many years of being with me and her brief time. They both belong … and they know it. Their experience with me has confirmed my love for them.
I love, love, love when the profound is wrapped in the beauty of tangible examples, and Ida Mae’s transformation is exactly that.
Is your heart living on the streets, trapped in an iron-clad pen? Not physically of course, but emotionally, spiritually, mentally? Do you long for someone to see you, hear you? To understand your value and to love you forever?
Let your wave-tossed heart look no further. Tether yourself to the One who spoke for you with His blood. Be anchored in life’s storms with the love of the Father who will never leave you.
If you haven’t made what Christ did on the cross personal to you, take the time to do so. Come home.
If you’ve already made the profession of faith, never forget you are home. Find rest and peace in your Father’s house.
You are no longer an orphan. You’ve been spoken for, adopted, and welcomed into His heart and His home. Run the full house with joy and encouragement. The food is yours, the bed is yours, the sofas are yours. His presence is yours! His love is yours! Nothing held back, it’s all yours.
There’s nothing to fear about this Father. Accept His invitation to be adopted into His heart and His home. Move from a wandering heart that’s not quite sure where it belongs to the home that you’re joyfully received and eternally loved. He’s the Father who is extremely generous with all that He has.
NOW LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!
Self-Reflection
These questions are in no way a substitute for healthcare professionals or any level of professional counseling. I’m an advocate for taking care of oneself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These questions reflect my heart, NOT my profession.
This questionnaire is an opportunity to journal your thoughts and feelings. It can serve as a launching pad on which to evaluate your heart condition as you understand it. My hope is that you will take the truths you discover about yourself and hold them up to the Light to evaluate them against who God says you are.
- What areas of your life are you hiding from God?
- Why are you hiding them?
- Are you living with an attitude of, “That’s all I deserve”?
- If so, where do you think that thinking comes from?
- Are you holding back in any way (i.e., you’re not chasing your dreams, you make excuses … )?
- If so, what is your biggest fear?
- What is one thing you feel you’d regret if you never do?
- What fear/lie is holding you back from pursuing that one thing?
Take Action
Use God’s word to take control over the traumas in your life. Whenever you feel terrorized by your thoughts take them captive by replacing them with the truth of God’s promises in His word.
Here is a scripture for you to print, cut and carry with you and/or post in places where you will see it often. Ground yourself in God’s truths not Satan’s attacks. Encourage your heart and mind every time you are reminded of His great love for YOU!
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”—Titus 3:5-7
Read God’s word and say to yourself:
I will never be good enough to be loved by God, but He loves me anyway. I’ll never be able to work hard enough, but God loves me anyway. When I acknowledge Jesus Christ’s work on the cross, I’m washed clean, I receive a rebirth and the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit in my life.
