Afflicted

A few days ago a neighbor way down the street showed up at our door with Lucky.
"Is this your dog?"
"Nope, never seen him before in my life. Might as well take him home, sir, and give him a good life. He looks like a nice dog."
"Ma'am...I know this is your dog."
I looked more closely.
"Well there is a certain resemblance to a dog we once owned. A dog that didn't understand the meaning of gratitude for the cushy home we gave him, a dog that was driving us to an early grave with his escapes from Maximum security fencing."
The back gate was closed, no open doors. He had either hired an airplane or once again, scaled the fence. Lucky hung his head.
"Do you want your dog back?" asked the neighbor.
"How much can we offer you to keep him?" I asked.

Despite our best efforts, the dog transfer back to us occurred. Then over the next few days, Lucky was limping. I suspect he injured his old shoulder climbing over the fence. He is getting better but don't think for one second he has learned his lesson.
"What is out there that you want so badly?" I asked the old dog.
He just looked woefully at me. In the good old days, he was able to escape with no aching arthritic joints reminding him of his crime.

I can relate. I went to the Occupational Therapist who gave me a home program for my aching wrists and elbows. She said despite the doc saying it was tendonitis and ulnar nerve irritation, she felt this was just one really angry ulnar nerve. Well, actually two really angry ulnar nerves since both arms are affected. She gave me a series of exercises and told me to expect progress but SLOW progress. This would be no overnight fix. And the biggest thing I need to do. Stop bending my elbows. At night I am supposed to splint my elbows such that they stay straight. So now, each evening to protect the body parts that need protecting while I sleep, I first put in my mouthguard which alleviates my TMJ (jaw) grinding and pain. I have to do that first, because my next armor prohibits elbow bending. I rigged socks with strategic padding and the toes cut off to slide onto my arms and ingeniously prevent elbow movement. That is Exoskeleton # 2 for the evening attire. I slip those on, and my arms stay relatively rigid. Finally, I strap on my wrist braces. Most people do not dress for bed more heavily protected than a hockey player, but I, unfortunately, am not most people.

In the book of Lamentations, the writer is overwhelmed with his afflictions, with his sense of having been cast off from God. He pours out his heart with his despair, but then there is interspersed in his caterwauling, brief snippets of hope. He knows, despite all appearances to the contrary, that God will not desert him. He knows that God's mercies are "new every morning, great is His faithfulness."

Lucky and I moaned and groaned as he limped and I gingerly straightened my arms to pet him.
"How are you this morning, old boy?" I asked.
He gazed up at me, his wiry hair half covering his mournful eyes.
He moved towards his food bowl, the limp definitely decreasing, while the unseasonably warm morning sun draped long fingers through the window.

Lamentations 3:18-33
So I say, "My splendor is gone
and all that I had hoped from the Lord." I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence,
for the Lord has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope. Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace. For no one is cast off
by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to anyone.


-save a dog- hollowcreekfarm.org