Tip of My Iceberg

John was gone for almost two weeks in Thailand.

That trip will undo the heartiest of souls. Time in the air is about 23 hours. Number of time zones crossed–12.

Response to jet lag–horrific.

Poor guy. He’d just begun to adjust to his new norm when he had to return.

That’s tough on an aging body. (Not a snarky comment. A statement of fact.)

Coming back, he fell asleep early and woke up at ridiculous times in the wee hours of the morning. Times he rarely sees because he was born an owl, not a morning glory.

He just headed to San Diego. Another trip. Further west.

Jet-lag jitters are raising their nasty heads.

Which leaves me alone. Again.

Not my happy place.

In years past, I’d often use these excursions of John’s to invest in a live-in companion.

I’d go to the pound and get a dog.

We got three different dogs this way.

Not that I was going behind his back. He couldn’t see reason when it came to us needing a dog for companionship. Teaching the kids responsibility. Consistent exercise necessitated by the dog needing to walk and do its business outdoors.

Well, yes, that was going behind his back. But I felt I had good reason.

They were three very different dogs. The first one, Lucky, came to us because my oldest had just began high school and was feeling a little blue about it. She’d answered a “free to good home” ad in the paper.

What they didn’t say was that the dog had mange and didn’t like men. At all.

Our second dog, Addie, was supposed to be a mix of sharpei and Jack Russell.

The vet said she was about 80% pit bull. She’d pull my kids around when they tried walking her. A little too powerful.

The third dog lasted for 16 years. A sweet mix between a collie and golden retriever, he had more fur than a flock of sheep had wool. But he was a great dog.

As John left again, I smiled and told him that it was adoption weekend at PetSmart. He wasn’t amused.

Alone isn’t my favorite place. I love another heartbeat in the house. Human or canine.

God has been gently reminding me that He’s already fulfilled that need. I don’t need a dog to be with me. I have Him with me all the time. And He will never leave or run away. Or have had enough of me. It’s a promise. Part of our relationship agreement.

“For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’”   Hebrews 13 5b

He listens to me, even when I have too many words. He responds to my heart needs through what He’s written in the Bible. He loves me, no matter what.

Dogs are incredibly loving. Having one would be fun. But it wouldn’t be the same as a Companion who walks with me every moment of every day. Forever.

And doesn’t require me to carry a plastic bag for whatever happens along the way.