Moses and Bingley

     One year ago today, our sweet old Moses went on to glory.  Just remembering an incredibly loyal, gentle, and sweet-to-the-bones companion who brought our family so much love and joy--

One of his very favorite places--the mountains at Roaring Gap:

 (and especially the sofa on the porch in the mountains!)

 And all those days he'd faithfully sit (well, sleep) at my feet while I worked on Bible study lectures--

     But how well I recall that long Sunday, a year ago today, when our dear old Moses breathed his last while we surrounded and hugged him in our kitchen.  So many, many tears....but all born out of so much joy.  The measure of sorrow in loss is surely reflected by the measure of all the happiness given in life. True for the adored family and friends in our lives...and the beloved pets as well.
     Thank You, Lord, for the gift of love--from people and from our dogs.
     And here we are, a year later, thanking God for the gift of another sweet dog--Bingley.  A year ago we were weeping, but today we're laughing at Bingley's silly ways.  He loves to sit in laps--

And hike along the greenway--

And boy, he loves, loves, loves big sticks--

   Here's what I'm thinking--hills and valleys, highs and lows, joys and sorrows...that's life, isn't it?  We tend to forget in the midst of the hard moment that "this too shall pass."  When we're slogging through the valley of the shadow of death, it helps to remember that we truly are "just passing through."  Sure, it often feels like we've stalled and are stuck in our sadness or disappointment or frustration.
    But we're not.  Not ever.   Our Good Shepherd is always leading us to those greener pastures, those calmer waters, those paths of righteousness, and those places of goodness and mercy.  Often in the midst of storms, we can't see Him or feel Him...but He's there, walking before, beside, and behind us.  Moving us through the dark valley and into the sunlight.  "To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." (Isa.61:3)
   Maybe it's just me, but slow learner that I am, I can sometimes forget this, especially in the dark. Forget that God is working and moving through all of life's ups and downs...and through all of our fits and starts and successes and failures.  It's often been said that we must never doubt in the dark what we learned in the light.  And part of that means recalling that our world ever turns, our circumstances ever change, and our God ever superintends and controls all of it for our ultimate good and His greater glory.    
      All of it.  Even the ugly, hard, scary parts.  Surely, slowly, and relentlessly changing every bit of it into glory.  And from glory to glory.
      The story of our lives will not be completed till the Master Author has put the finishing touches on a tale only He could dream up and craft into something extraordinarily beautiful. We might not be able to see or comprehend that story--but our God's working and moving in a thousand ways we cannot begin to see or imagine.  I love how Bob Goff put it, "No book is a chapter.  No chapter tells the whole story.  No mistake defines who we are.  Hope makes our lives page turners."
     So today, I'm thankful for the gift of this day, for all that God has brought us through, and for all He will be leading us through--and to--in the future.  He's always working...and He's always leading.
     And I'm thankful, too, for Moses and Bingley.  God's gifts come in all kinds of packages.
     To God be the glory.