Cheerful Heart

I've been gone from home a whole month. I left to care for my mom when she had serious abdominal surgery. When I left, I didn't know how long I'd be gone, nor how COLD NY state would be. I left my beloved family, and my dear dogs. I love my crazy dog Lucky, but I have a very special place in my heart for my dog, Honeybun. She had not been doing well when I left. She had "old dog vestibular disease" and her bloodwork showed kidney issues. I didn't really know if she would live but Mom is more important than my dog...so much as I love my dog, I stayed in NY caring for Mom an entire month.

I  wondered if my husband, knowing the stress I was under in NY, just didn't tell me if my poor dog had died. As I got closer to home on my drive back yesterday, I grew more and more eager...and anxious. Was Honeybun still alive? Was she worse physically than when I had left? It was hard not to speed. I needed to see my Honeybun, alive and well.

When I walked in the door, both dogs greeted me exuberantly. My daughter is out of town for the weekend, and my hubby was at work when I arrived. But both dogs were there, like dogs always are, frantic with joy. And Honeybun looked so much better than when I had left. It looks like she is recovering! I hugged them both, but Honeybun lay at my feet, wagging her tail and rubbing her snout against me, groaning with joy. She wasn't all wobbly like she was a month ago when I last saw her, and her head tilt was much decreased.

I have mountains of work in preparation for the book signing, and the carpet smells suspiciously like dog vomit. Still, I am home, my mom is better, my dog is alive, and God is in Heaven. My goal today is to praise God with a cheerful heart.
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James 1:17 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

2 Corinthians 9:7 

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Proverbs 15:1-33 

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. ...

2 Corinthians 9:6-9 

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

John 16:33 

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”