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Caffeinated Randomness…The Tale of Maggie

4:09 pm By

I was saddened to see that Caffeinated Randomness is ending. Andrea is closing her meme, but since I just started my dog series and I have three to go, we are going to keep it rolling for a few more Fridays.

I am telling the story of three most attentive friends, Sam (her post was last week), Maggie, and Tess. I am also going to throw a surprise in next week, so hang in there. It is Maggie’s turn. She is my 11 year old black Labrador Retriever, born April 4, 1998. Six months after adopting Sam, I adopted Maggie.

I thought that Sam would kill her at first. Another dog, in her territory? She didn’t think so. Every single time Maggie walked in the door from the backyard, until two years ago, Sam would jump on her head and growl. Maggie has the patience of Job. She never responded to that. There were, however, three times (in her whole life) that I saw her tell Sam to stop it. Let’s just say Sam listened. I was so proud that she stood up for herself.

So far we have a Schnauzer who thinks she is a Rottweiler, and a Lab who thinks she is a Schnauzer. I think that Maggie got this misconception from Sam. Sam, a Miniature Schnauzer, was an easy lap dog and Maggie longed to be. She never understood the problematic size difference, so on everyone’s lap she went. Awkward, really.

Two of the funniest things about Maggie:

Maggie is a gooser, which is so embarrassing with new company. She came about it quite honestly. Maggie LOVES attention. I used to get on all fours and chase Sam around the living room table. It was hysterical. Maggie could hardly stand to see Sam get all the attention, so she would come up behind me and goose me. It gets your attention! That began a spree of goosing, whether playing or standing. I am so proud.

Next, every single time I change the sheets on our bed, Maggie observes. She sits completely straight, watching every smoothing gesture and tuck. There is nothing that she loves more than our bed. Last year’s back surgery was Maggie’s nirvana. Her human, in bed, all the time was her time to shine.

Observing sheet changes is not the goal, however. Maggie waits until I am completely done. Then I smack the bed with my hand, which is her cue to get up. She lives for clean sheets. So, basically, I have not had a clean bed in eleven years.

What to say about Maggie? I am enlisting the help of some personality test questions to introduce you to my friends. I will use the same questions of each of dog, for comparison sake.

1. What three words best describe your personality?

Sleepy, Hungry, and Belly Rubbable

2. What three words would others probably use to describe you?

I have heard my mom say words like, tired girl, big hearted, and stubborn.

3. Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the person/people.

Mom and Dad, Sam and Tess.

We live in a house with two beds, and lots of cool tile for my morning, afternoon and night naps.

Our backyard lets me sun. I have a great tan.

4. Do you have any ailments or physical weaknesses?

I get a hitch in my get-along every now and then. Mom feeds me “a treat” every morning for that.

Mom, also, chases me down twice a week to clean my ears. I play hard to get. The belly rubs and treats are kind of worth it. Everyone gets treats, actually. I wonder how I could get all the treats.

5. If you were any other creature what would you be?

I would be pillow, or a door. If I were a door everyone would have to touch me on their way somewhere. How about a fluffy door?

6. What are your pet peeves?

The yard guys. All yard guys, in fact. I don’t like all of that noise; it keeps me up, but very entertaining.

7. What is your greatest fear?

Missing mealtime.

8. Do you care what others think of you?

Only if they decide not to cuddle or give treats.

9. What is your favorite food?

Yes.

10. How do you deal with stress?

Shed, profusely. It keeps me beautiful.

God, thank you for Maggie. Her soft heart has made me a better steward. She has taught me the unique communication of a gentle soul. Maggie has rounded some of my corners and shown me what “no worries” really looks like. I don’t know what my life would look like without her.

Pet lovers unite! Leave me a comment and let me know what your pet(s) is/are like.

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I Was At The End of My Rope, Too

6:11 pm By

But if you will not listen,

my soul will weep in secret for your pride;

my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears,

because the Lord’s flock has been taken captive. – Jeremiah 13:17, NRSV

Sometimes, Christians make mistakes. Often, I do.

A friend of mine has been struggling under a situation for several years. I have been hurt over it, I have been angry about it, I have done the brain roll, I have cautioned her, I have listened to her, and I have prayed over her. The situation has not changed.

What do we do when people that we love are walking away from truth?

Years ago, I was engaged to a man, not my husband. I had walked away from the church and anything that I once believed hung by a thread. I had created a religious amalgam from all of my philosophical preferences. It could hardly be called spiritual, considering that it was all about me, although I would have claimed that I was spiritual.

The engagement was a mistake. It was blatantly disobedient to God’s word. In the middle of it, I rejected all wisdom. Apparently, I was so bold about it that friends and family did not question my behavior. No one said, “Hey, this isn’t the best for you”. No one.

I will be honest. In retrospect, I am most sad that no one acted on my behalf. I would like to think that people were weeping for my sin, desiring to intervene. I just don’t know that they were. How could anyone assume that I was actually happy in the middle of blatant sin? This has given me a heart for women in this position. God has sent many in my path. I find our stories similar.

The irony is that my sadness over my own situation has not changed my behavior toward my friend. I would like to say that I have wept for the sin of my friend frequently, but I have not. I would say that once or twice I have been that true of a friend.

For me, there was Paige, my Jeremiah. She actually worked for me. I still can weep from gratitude that she was sent into my life. In the midst of complete turmoil, she nudged me back. She never condemned me, but by watching her compassion and her own struggles, I was reintroduced to God’s character. She told me that she would pray for me. She was a drink of water in the barren desert.

I don’t know what she did in private, how she asked God to restore my life, but He did. Now, I am in this situation with my friend. I don’t want to hold the same assumptions that others held about me. I know, intimately, the sound of truth against a broken life. When I compared Paige’s words to my life, I could define my hopelessness. I know that heaven began preparations for my return in these moments.

For my friend I want peace, God’s love, happiness, a hope, and a future.

For Paige, I will give all the jewels in my crown and anything else she wants.

For myself, I want the heart of Jeremiah.

How do you react to a friend who is walking away from the truth?

Filed Undercommunity, faith, love 3 Comments
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