Piling On

Poor Honeybun. She again could not bear weight on her back leg at all. I had no choice but to return to the vet, whom we had just seen a week ago for the same problem.

"I'm back!" I said with forced cheerfulness to the perky receptionist.

Of course, after two days of not putting her foot down, as soon as Dr. Love walked in the examining room, she stopped limping. Dr. Love is wonderful, and this time, determined to find the source of her pain, spent quite some time rather forcibly palpating her back knee. I think she wanted desperately to bite him, but instead, she looked woefully at him.

Then he left the room and returned with paper and pencil. He drew me a picture of a dog knee. Basically two ligaments cross over the knee between the two halves of leg bones, and hold the knee in place. He felt the back ligament was not severed but probably torn. He prescribed anti-inflammatories and as much rest as possible for at least two weeks. Sooooo, I guess Honeybun will be coming to Matt's law school graduation with us. We will crate her as much as possible, though right now she has no interest in moving anywhere. When I went to pay for the exam, Dr. Love poked his head out of his office, "This one is on me."

As I drove home, I thought of Dr. Love's kindness, and Honeybun's sweetness and began crying my eyes out. I know it was not just Dr. Love or Honeybun...it was everything. My old friends Comer and his wife Evelyn dying, Raivo dying, Mom K dying, job worries, another tooth yet to be crowned, and now my poor dog with a painful injury and long, uncertain healing process ahead of her. Sometimes life piles up and it feels a little like being buried alive.

However, God gives us excellent guidance in the midst of the piling on of woes. He tells us to worry only about the next step, and trust that He has a plan, and in the end, it is all for Good. I have often considered the wording of the verse in Romans 8 that says God works everything "for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." The good is not just for those who love God, but for those who are responding and living a life that is devoted to His purpose. What doesn't feel like personal "good" may in fact be part of an inexplicable puzzle of what is good for God's Kingdom and ultimate game plan.

Given that, the response to struggles has to be resting and trusting that God is good, and this will all be resolved for His purpose in the end.

Romans 8:28 NIV
[28] And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Philippians 4:4-7 NIV
[4] Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! [5] Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. [6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.





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