beagle named Anne. She is the most timid dog for 20 lbs. and 13 inches tall. Jake the cat has become a green eyed monster to quote Berenstain Bears. He is the cat who came to the half-way house for cats (my house) and made it a whole-way house instead. Anne has invaded his kingdom. Another problem is Anne used to play with her cat but this one (Jake) does not play. No blood yet but today is another day.
For the first few days Anne stayed on the couch. She would not come off for anything. Not food or treats nothing, we were bringing her food and treats to her. She would eat but not off of the couch. When we took her outside she would walk at the end of the retractable leash. As far away from me as she could get. Last Saturday I took her outside and the leash left my hand so there goes Anne. She was not running but those four small legs were moving her along at a fine clip anywhere away from me. So I started calling her and walking after her. I was closing in on her she looked and took off into the neighbor’s woods. She got so far ahead of me that I lost sight of her. I kept walking/running but could not see her.
It didn’t last long because she was dragging that retractable leash. Just like a hose, rope, string anything that drags it will hang up at the least convenient moment. Yes, it did just that for Anne and for me. I saw her stuck because the leash was wrapped around a tree and would not come loose. Got her, that’s when I saw the rest of the family in the woods too. Dressed in their finest get-out-of-bed-on-Saturday-morning-not-expecting-to-be-seen-by-anybody-outfits. You know the kind. We were a sight. Even Jake was out there in the woods. He was probably cheering Anne on, “go faster, farther run away.” Cats will do that you know.
Tuesday I took her outside the same way on the leash etc. and what happens again? You guessed it, the leash left my hands and Anne left the porch. Scooting away at about the same clip headed to the tall grass and the neighbors woods. So I followed calling her name etc. and she kept going. This time I stopped to watch where she went trying to make a plan to go get her. I looked up and she stopped, sniffed the air and looked at me. I had squatted down close to the ground waiting and called her name. Slowly she came back to me finally crouching and close so I could touch her. I was thrilled.
The Sunday before I had preached from Genesis 3 about the fall of Adam and Eve, several things were new to me:
• Genesis outlines the entire Bible, 11 chapters cove the beginning of time to Abraham and 35 chapters cover his life: emphasis
• There were many trees to eat from only one to not eat from
• When sin is exposed and consequences handed out, God provides for future salvation first (v.15) present punishment second (v.16-19) and makes particular provision today (the making of garments out of skins.
I was thrilled Anne had come back. I chose not to chase her but let her come back on her own of her own free will. It must thrill God when I come back of my own free will. I thought of Adam and Eve. Their sin separated them from God so that they covered themselves and hid among the trees from God. Guilt does that. He called for them until they revealed themselves and their situation naked and exposed. I thought of God heartbroken over their choice and the consequences yet he loved them still. He provided for their future salvation and for their present need (the first sacrifice provided by God I add (can you say foreshadow?)). He does the same today for sons of Adam and daughters of Eve.
Like I said I was thrilled Anne had come back to me as I waited for her. I took the leash in a firmer grip and we went sniffing and exploring for a few minutes. She got a treat when we went back inside. Now she is up and down, down and up on and off the couch exploring the new house. If she gets spooked she is right back to the couch but not for long. She is hoping the cat will play (we won’t get our hopes up for that).
Continue to pray for rain in Somalia…It WILL rain in Somalia.
In HIS Service and Yours,
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