When I was a little red-haired girl, I loved puppies. Living in the country, far from town and friends, puppies entertained me. Educated me. Enriched my existence. Growing up with dogs was like growing up with money. It made you a certain kind of person. By the time I was ten years old, I judged others by whether or not they kept a dog. Not owning man’s best friend was like not owning a bathtub. I stayed away from those kind of people. But I did accept one friend who didn’t have a dog because she desperately wanted one. Her mother hated the scent of puppies. The mother smoked like a fiend, but wouldn’t let her daughter near a puppy because of the smell. This was unimaginable to me. I thought this woman completely unworthy of motherhood until a few weeks ago.

On the first day of May, our lab dumped ten puppies in her doghouse. One puppy died, but the rest are ruling my life now. When the puppies were about three weeks old, the mother decided she’d had enough and stopped nursing them. Thus began my days of green pastures and puppies. Morning, noon, and night, I hauled mom over to her puppies, holding her there so her brood could nurse. Pretty soon is was too hot in her doghouse so I carried nine puppies out to our lawn several times a day. This on top of May weddings, graduations, yard work, laundry, and my long list of everyday life to do. Soon, I despised the smell of puppies.

If only they were purebred lab puppies I could sell them for money, I thought. I wouldn’t mind taking care of puppies worth some cash, but these half breeds will go for free, and I might even have to pay someone to take them off my hands. I need these puppies like I need a case of chickenpox. There’s already so much to do. Thanks, Lord for all these stinkin’ puppies!

And as I stood there complaining this truth came to me: Remember who you are, the girl who needs puppies. Remember who I am, the One who makes you lie down in green pastures. Savor this time relaxing in the grass with your family and these puppies. This is my gift to you to slow you down and give you rest in the midst of your demanding life. 

After hearing this, I picked up a puppy and tucked it against my heart, settling down Indian style under one of our shade trees. The pup nestled all warm and sweet in my arms, and the Spirit’s sweetness filled me.

Being reminded of who you are and who God is~ is something money can’t buy~ it’s a priceless thing. Psalm 23 says, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.”

Soul restoration is a strange and splendid thing. People go to the ends of the earth searching for soul restoration, searching for meaning, searching for life. They run, they skydive, they surf with sharks, they brave death all day long hoping to feel alive again. But what really gives life?

Our male lab is not the father of these puppies. Yet, each day he plays with them, licks them, loves them. He has adopted the pups as his own, just like God adopts us once we accept his Son Jesus as our Savior. God then becomes our loving Father who gives us abundant life, green pastures, and puppies.

If anyone wants a free puppy, facebook me. 🙂