Providing Needs

      School has reopened at the Kaseorg Homeschool. Asherel and I creaked into the new year, kicking and screaming a little but by the end of the day, we were back into the routine. I was glad I had written the blog yesterday about a good attitude making all the difference because it is never easy to return to long hard days after two weeks off. I had to resort to a lecture on the serenity prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.

    "Can you change the fact that you have end of the year AP and SAT tests and have to be prepared for them?"

     "No."

     "Can you change the fact that you are a student and by law I am required to educate you?"

     "No."

     "Then that is one of those things you have to accept, and it will be a lot more pleasant for all of us if it is with joy and delight."

     I recounted how I used to stay up mourning all night on Sunday before I had to return to work on Mondays back in the days of my full time working. It is not that I didn't understand her reluctance. It is hard to kiss vacation goodbye.

     Meanwhile, my favorite animal rescue, Hollow Creek Farm, never takes time off. They had posted to facebook that the dogs were coming in faster than money, potential owners, or crates. They were desperate for all three to be able to help the dogs they pull from imminent euthanasia lists or have found dumped in mostly horrific condition. They have started a new rescue venue, called Operation Candy Van (at least I think that is what the OCV stands for...could also be Occupy Canine Vigilantes given the current fad in our country.) Whatever OCV stands for, it transports dogs from southern gas chambers to owners seeking pets in the North. HCF makes sure the dogs are vetted, innoculated, healed as needed, linked with potential owners, and then driven a thousand miles to their hopeful haven. They scrounge for donations, but a good bit  of money is from their own pockets.  I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong on this description.

     Anyway, I noticed in a recent post that they were asking if anyone had crates, preferably 36 inch crates, so they could temporarily house more dogs in their shelter, save more lives. I wondered why there was a glut of dogs that required 36 inch crates. It was right around Christmas, and I was in the midst of family gathering, cooking, entertaining. As soon as family left, I was felled by a mysterious illness which my husband called a "bad cold" but I am certain was something more exotic, like PanAsian HiNi7. I had already given them our extra crate, so had nothing to offer.

    Finally feeling well enough to start back to my walking regimen, I was rounding the corner yesterday and noticed my neighbor working in his yard.

     "Happy New Year Jim!" I called.

     "Happy New Year, Vicky! Oh, I wanted to ask you. I have a brand new crate, never opened, still in the box that was the wrong size. Never returned it. Might that animal farm you like want it?"

     I stopped in my tracks, "They sure would!"

     He had the tiniest dog on the planet so I knew it wouldn't be what HCF most needed, but any crate could help them. If nothing else they could loan it to other needy rescues. He opened the garage door. The crate box came up to his waist.

     "That was for Piper (the chihuahua mix)?"

     "No, it was for Casey. It turned out to be a little too small for her." I wondered why for three years since Casey had died, the crate had just sat there, unopened.

     "Well thanks! Out of curiosity...what size is it?"

     We leaned over and read the box: 36 inches.

     I led the way while Jim shouldered the heavy box to carry to my porch, and I smiled shaking my head. I may not always have the courage or wisdom to change the things I can, but it seems God is determined to help me out in my inadequacies. I sent an email to HCF, "Want a 36 inch crate?"

     "Heck yeh!"

Philippians 4:19 NIV

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.