The Most Important Step of Any Journey

Ragnar, my granddog, is not only beautiful, but has a really nice personality too. And he is super smart. He is always good natured and never holds a grudge. He is always happy to see any human being, and is very polite about food, only snatching off my plate if the need is DIRE.

If he were a person, he’d be my best friend.

He will be with us for the next few months so I am working out a new routine that works for both our schedules. I am up at 5 a.m. usually, which is ok with him. He wouldn’t mind sleeping longer, but he is amenable to whatever I want to do. I feed him right away. Then, he watches me eat my breakfast and when I finish, he knows it is time for our run. He is very out of shape since his mom and dad don’t love long walks and definitely NOT runs of any length. So I run him one mile. He is certain that he cannot go that far because he is so unused to it. However, he trusts me, and it is not so bad when there is someone at your side even when you are growing hot and tired. By the end of the mile, he has gone as far as he can for now. We meander a few more minutes to cool down and smell all the delicious scents creatures have deposited, and then I put him back in the house. He goes back to sleep, and I finish my run. I will add five minutes a week to Ragnar’s run. I feel certain that soon, he will be able to cover the whole distance at my side.

I then head off to the abortion center sidewalk where I will join my Cities4Life team, encouraging women to choose life and offering them resources to make that choice easier. Ragnar lies down in front of the door and from what I can tell, doesn’t move till I return 5 hours later. I assume once he knows I ALWAYS return, he will not feel the need to guard the door in case it should open.

When I walk in the door, he is very vocal in his delight. He talks to me telling me with absolute certainty that life is better now that I am home.

My dogs both died within a few months of each other a couple of years ago. I miss them but not so much that I was eager to get another dog. Dogs are a responsibility I wasn’t chomping at the bit to embrace at this stage in my life. I like the freedom to come or go as I please with no worries about anyone at home starving, pooping, mourning, or rampaging. I homeschooled my three kids for a total of about 27 years which is a very intense life. Additionally, I always had dogs to care for and train as well. I also always worked in some capacity; teaching art, writing books, and a long gone career as an occupational therapist and business owner.

Honestly, at this point, I LIKE not worrying about other creatures.

Except...

I spend every day all day worrying about other creatures. Fellow human creatures. Single moms, and doomed unborn babies. I work with desperate women who feel trapped in a decision to abort. When they choose life, I still work with them to help link them with resources that can help their situations, or encourage them with Bible verses and teachings, or refresh them with lunches out, or pray with them when they feel overwhelmed, or grieve with them when life stinks.  Our Cities4Life teams and partner ministries surround them with love, hope and help. 

Like Ragnar, they are sure they can’t even walk a mile of their future down the road. When they discover all those people willing to walk with them, sometimes they also discover they can do it. I always tell them it is not necessary that they figure out the whole journey when they are just at the starting line. Just be sure the next step is in the right direction. That direction is always towards God. Any journey that deviates from that is doomed to sorrow and ultimate failure.

There is no lack of creatures to worry about on this earth. And honestly, God commands us to bear each other’s burdens. Seek to save the lost. Speak for those who can’t speak for themselves. So many wounded, needy creatures on God’s green earth to care for...

So what’s one more? 

And now that Ragnar is settling in, my worry is decreasing and my delight is increasing. With all the sadness I encounter each day in my work as a sidewalk counselor at an abortion center, it is REALLY nice to come home to a wagging tail and a talking dog who tells me I am the best thing that has happened to him all day. 

But guess what also often greets me? A text from a mom we helped that day or that week thanking us. More often than not it also says if you hadn’t been there, I would have made the greatest mistake of my life. Thank you for helping me know I could walk out of that terrible place.

Already, Ragnar understands the routine and is looking forward to our morning run. He forgets how tired he is at the end of the mile and is excited about the journey! He has learned that the biggest step in any journey is the first one. This is what I pray we can convey to those reluctant moms who don’t know if they can go the distance. 

Please pray for us and consider joining us. We have a special need now for teams from 12-3 pm.

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Isaiah 40:31 

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Proverbs 12:10 

Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

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New novel just released, pro-life, pro-God, pro-dog. Humorous and serious about taking the right steps for the precious life God has created. Click HERE for information.