As I stated in an earlier post that was met with much chagrin; I believe God’s two greatest creations are women and dogs; and not necessarily in that order.

There is one woman I am exceptionally happy that God created, my wife Joan who I love very much. Joan warned me not to tire you with stories about my two dogs who died over 12 years ago. But I do need to brag on how exceptional well behaved they were. For example, while watching a football game, I could leave a ham sandwich on the coffee table and turned to them and say “don’t touch!”, and upon returning from the kitchen with my beverage that sandwich would still be there. 

I had two Labrador retrievers… a 90 lb. yellow lab and a 70 lb. black lab.  Katie was the yellow lab and we called her “Katie girl”.  Sabrina was the black lab and we called her “Bean”.  They were both amazing watch dogs.  Katie would bark viciously and warn of us of any potential intruders entering our yard. Bean on the other hand was a different kind of watch dog. She would watch thieves take all of our prized possessions, if Katie wasn’t there to stop them. The UPS driver would be greeted at the driveway by a ferocious growling, teeth showing yellow lab; while the black lab would roll over offering him her belly to rub.

They were both beautiful, loving, and loyal dogs. They were wonderful pets. To this day I still refer to them as “my girls”.  Their love for us was unconditional, as was their trust and confidence. They rightly trusted they would always be fed and taken care of. They loved being with us, belonging to the pack, being adopted into our family.  

I was reminded of my dogs when studying the scripture and I came across the verse in Proverbs 3:5 (NLT) that reads “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”. Those two dogs without always understanding our intentions, trusted in us with all of their hearts.

How many of us have that level of trust in God?

Every summer I would take the family on vacation for a week or so to a beach at Oak Island, N.C.  A few days before leaving on our trip to the shore, I would say to the dogs over and over, again and again:

“You girls have no idea; you have no idea!”

My girls would look up at me as I would say those words and they would wag their tails hearing the excitement in my voice…but they were CLUELESS!

How could they know in a few short days that I would be treating them to long walks on the beach? They loved those walks on the beach.  But they also didn’t know that they would be riding for 8 long hours cramped in the back of our SUV. 

It wasn’t until the last 15 minutes of that 8-hour drive as we approached the bridge going over the Intracoastal Water Way, when their advanced sense of smell told them where we were going. I smiled and welcomed those last few miles, watching them through my rear-view mirror as they could barely contained their excitement whining and pacing in place. 

I look back on the times God has favored me with unexpected blessings… and I imagine that all that time he was watching me and saying, “you have no idea, you have no idea!” 

Now I am so much more aware and thankful, and I feel his smile when exceptional blessings happen in my life. I am sorry for the times in my past when I failed to place my trust and confidence in Him, as my loyal and loving dogs did with me. Yes, there were many stressful times in my past life, sometimes very stressful; and I was only focused on my present circumstances.  And then when I did get a break or some relief, I would chalk it up to luck instead of properly giving God the credit for it.   I know I have His forgiveness, but I am still embarrassed by my actions and my inability to recognize His blessings at the time.

So, what changed from then to now?

I always believed in God, I believed in Jesus as my Savior, I believed in the Holy Spirit, but I cannot honestly say I had a “personal” relationship with Him, with Them.  Believing in a distant God is not the same as a “believer” who has a personal relationship with Him.

Being a believer by definition is trusting in God and not asking “why”.  Believers do not ask “why”, because we trust and rely on God’s wisdom and not our own.

Things I learned about being a “trustful” believer
from my 4-legged girl’s

They submitted their will to my will … Believers know what it means to sacrifice their will and surrender to God’s will.

They enjoyed my presence as they always greeted me at the door each night when I came home from work……Believers seek and enjoy God’s presence.

My dogs were loyal…. Another word for loyal is faithful. Believers are faithful to God.

The girls placed their trust and confidence in me…. Believers place their trust and confidence in God and not their circumstances.

They loved belonging to the pack (our family)…Believers know what it means to be “adopted” into God’s family.

My girls were patient…. Believers learn “patience” has to do with God’s timing and not ours. 

And, it’s not just about being patient, it is how we behave while being patient, specifically what is our attitude or conduct while we are waiting?  I have this theory, the more you complain about your circumstances, the more you wait. 

On a very personal note: I was married before and my wife of 30 years ended our marriage without warning.  I didn’t understand. I didn’t do drugs, I was not a drinker, I was not physically or verbally abusive, I didn’t cheat on her, I came home every night.  I was a good provider.   

I am very thankful her leaving did not occur prior to my spiritual awakening (born again). Prior to my “awakening”, I was a church goer but I did not enjoy a personal relationship with God. If she had left me during that period in my life, I would NOT have handled the situation very well.  I was a justice-oriented person and full of pride. I am embarrassed to admit, I probably would have been vindictive.

Fortunately, when she left, I was already a “believer”, and I enjoyed God’s presence, and it was His peace and His Holy Spirit who guided me through an extremely stressful period.    In fact, through the whole ordeal, I was actually praying for God to heal her heart and her mind.  To this day, I don’t know the “real” why for her leaving and although I am curious about it, it doesn’t haunt me. My response to unknown “whys” is always; “nothing happens without God’s permission”.

Honestly, I can’t tell you I heard God saying to me during that extremely stressful period … “You Have No Idea, You have No Idea”.  But after He placed my loving wife Joan into my life, I know He was saying it the whole time!

How many of us did not hear God
when He was saying? 
You Have No Idea; You Have No Idea!

Turn away from this world and towards God.
Be filled with His light.
It is your time to shine!

By the way, if you have a story you would like to share about God surprising you with unexpected blessings, I would love to hear it as long as it does not involve your CATS! 😊

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