Blogs of The Fast and the Furriest Dachshund Molly

Brokenness

8/26/2018

When I was a wee pup and had only been with my folks a few weeks Mom noticed some things about me. I was terrified of my shadow, and dogs barking in the distance would set me running for all I was worth back to our house. I didn't respond to direction like any of Mom's previous dogs did.

This went on for some time, causing my Mom to step out of her comfort zone, beginning to research new articles and buying new books on dog behavior and training. (You need to understand my Mom is an old woman who grew up on a farm, had many dogs as well as having trained horses. She honestly thought she'd seen or dealt with about everything one could come across with dogs and a lot with most animals.) The end conclusion being most people would have given up on me, and I more than likely would have ended up at the dog shelter. I definitely was a challenge, luckily I had a Mom who loved challenges.

Which leads us to our subject for this blog. Brokenness,

Had I ended up with someone else, I would have more than likely become a broken dog. What I mean by that is my problems such as they were, could have become monumentally bigger than what they already were. My fears were indeed real and large to me, (obvious to others) and for a brief while almost crippling.

No one can explain the horrifying terror that can grip a soul, and send you running for the protection of your home where you feel your safest, or the insecurities that can wrap their tenacious fingers around your heart making you feel as if the world is a dreadful place.

1 John 4:18

18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Perfect love cast out fear.

That's where Mom started with me. We would sit where I could see my shadow, or hear dogs barking in the distance for sometimes 15- 20 min at a time. Yes initially I'd put up a fight. Mom told me that was fine, I could fight if I wanted to. We were still going to sit here for a little while. Mom said, "She'd still be here waiting for me when I'd given out of fight". When I'd stop fighting, and turn and look at my Mom she'd give me a hug or a pat, talk to me quietly and we'd then go on our way...

Brokenness

I yielded my heart to my Mothers desire. I put my trust in my Mom's plan that things would be ok and that she'd keep me safe.

There's two types of Brokenness on this earth my friends and furiends. There's the brokenness that the world inflicts on us, (pain, hurt, bitterness and fear) that can easily be compounded, and there's the Brokenness of a heart yielded to God. Trusting that He's always there, to bind our wounds, calm our fears and pick us up our of our deepest, darkest pits of terror.

Mom and Dad have never figured out how I ended up with some of the fears that I had. They finally decided it didn't really matter. What matters is what I am today, and the changing power of love, and patience.

God showed my Mom and Dad His love and patience for them. They in turn showed His love and patience to me.

I am a testimony of what can be accomplished with a yielded heart and loving pawrents.

The same crippling fears can break a humans heart just as easily as they were breaking mine. May we all remember we have a loving God who desires to take away our fears, and give us something, (someone=Himself) real to hold onto, to have faith in. Someone to just sit with us until our fears subside.

Don't believe the lies that tell you your faith isn't big enough, or your fears and failures are too large. He's there with you, holding you in the middle of your fears and your failures, telling you it will all be ok, just as my Mom was with me.

Perfect love cast out fear.

Love and Peace,

Molly and my Mom

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Thankful for Thursday

8/23/2018

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We have a lot to be thankful for here at our house this Thursday. Being thankful is something Mom and I try to remember to do on a daily basis. We both learned a long time ago regardless to how dire a situation can seem, things could always be worse. Sounds a bit pessimistic we know, but it is true.

Today we're extremely thankful for the cooler temperatures that visited us over night. It's a lovely 61 degrees outside and we have all our windows open. The peaceful sounds of nature are coming through the windows and a lovely breeze is gently blowing the curtains to and fro. ~Ahhhh~ Falls getting closer.

We're thankful that soon Mom and I can resume our walks through the quite woods and fields here around the house. Fall, winter and early spring are our favorite seasons. Mom and I look forward to the first true cool day of fall with all the eager anticipation of school children looking forward to spring break. For us it's like being set free after a summer of being confined inside.

The older we get the more philosophical we become and we understand the same God that sends the sunshine allows the rains that comes into our lives at times. We're trying to be thankful for some of the challenges we've experienced lately. We will say if not for our challenges, we'd never have been able to witness for ourselves some of His amazing miracles that He's done for us.

We are thankful for a living God who understands our troubles, who loves us unconditionally, and who even sends us the cooler temperatures so we can get outside and enjoy the beauty of nature that's around us.

So dear friends and furiends, what are you thankful for on this Thankful Thursday?

Love and Peace,

Molly and my Mom

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Getting Messy

8/10/2018

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Hello friends and furiends. :-) How have you been? We hope you've been doing well and that life is treating you good. This is honestly our prayer for all our furiends.

This has been a bit of a rough week for my Mom. She picked up a stomach bug Sunday and hasn't been up to snuff all week. This is a strange thing to see here at our house as Mom is really a go, go, go sort of person. She walks her 4 miles on the treadmill every day, takes care of me and my Dad, fixes lunch and tries to get a little cleaning done in-between. She tried her best to keep to her usual routine , but it simply didn't work this week. She just felt too bad.

With all this going on Mom got a phone call from a special sister in her Sunday school class. It seems a very old and dear friend of my Mom's adult son killed himself. She immediately called to offer her condolences and to see if there was anything she could do to help.

This is when my Mom found out she was completely unprepared to offer any true words of comfort to her dear friend in her time of need. The only thing she could tell this heartbroken woman who had just lost her eldest son was, "We may never know why God allows the things to happen that happen in our lives, the only thing we do know is He is with us while we go through them".

With Mom being under the weather and not up for a 4 mile daily trot on the treadmill this week she had time to think about her inability to offer this woman any true words of comfort during her time of grief.

This lead Mom to remember the scripture Romans 12

“Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:9-15).

Weep with those that weep. That was what Mom focused on. Weeping with those that weep. Maybe, that was all she was supposed to have done... Simply weep with her friend.

In today's busy, keep to yourself, and avoiding any situations that might become "messy" lifestyle people don't really weep with those that are weeping anymore do they? You know what I mean don't you? Mom will be the first to tell you she and Dad try to not get "close" to many people for fear of the responsibilities that go with that closeness.

Here's the thing though friends, we're all one body in Christ. When one part grieves, the entire body is affected by the pain. This is clearly stated in

1 Corinthians12:25-26

25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

This is something Mom and I have been talking about this week and we've both had our little epiphanies. You see we dogs do indeed have empathy for each other and even other species when they are hurting either physically or emotionally. We show our concern with no reservations at what it may cost us in time, or effort. We simply show compassion to those that need it.

It's not the same with hoomans, they feel their lives are too busy, they don't have the time, the people may become "clingy." Please don't thing we're trying to shine a spot light on your or anyone's lives really. We're not. This is simply something Mom and I have talked about this week brought about by a friends loss and grief and how to respond to that in a Godly way.

We stumbled across a wonderful article on practical ways to weep with those that weep. We're going to share that here

3 Practical Ways to Weep with Those Who Weep (Click here to read this wonderful article). (1)

1. They came to the funeral.

2. They stocked our pantry.

3. They prayed like our friends.

This is the thing dear friends and furiends, if you read the 3 high points of the article posted above, the way you weep with those that weep is you let down your guard, you open your hearts and most of all you become their friends.

We can't be one body in Christ if we don't develop relationships, and yes, relationships are messy. They can become inconvenient and time consuming. They also can become rewarding, life enriching and most of all we're showing Christ to others, honestly isn't that what being a Christian is all about?

Mom has called her friend a couple of times and each time this lady has begged Mom to simply pray for her and her family. This is another key thing that's incredibly important, prayer.

Praying for one another is such a simple thing, yet very powerful. (2)" God gives us instructions to pray for others in several places in the Bible. The apostle James tells us to “pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16).

The apostle Paul encourages us to intercede for Church members and ministers, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains” (Ephesians 6:18-20).

Paul exhorts us “that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2,).

Jesus Christ even commanded, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44, ).

"Why does God want us to pray for others? Because intercessory prayer reflects God’s own character of outgoing love and mercy. God wants us to think like He does, and praying for others helps us to think beyond ourselves and to grow in compassion for others."

1 Timothy 2:1

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people

Ephesians 6:18

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

When we pray we are speaking to our Father, who longs to have a relationship with His children. When we pray for others, we are reflecting our Fathers heart back to him. He loves to see His children caring for and loving His and our family.

Jesus got personal with people when He was on this earth. He had relationships that got messy. He got involved anyway, because He was showing His people, His love, and His heart, and He ask us to pray for others, as He does.

I'd like to leave you with a quote I read in an article shared by my pastor on his FB page
.
(3) " However, in everything that is done, we need to make sure that Jesus is at the center. It is a also a reminder that there are hurting people sitting in your congregation. There are people whose marriages are crumbling, people whose finances are deteriorating, people whose children are rebelling and people, like me, whose husband has passed away after a brutal fight with cancer. And these people are not impressed with the stage lighting. They could care less about the coffee flavor. They don’t need to be pumped or hyped. They need and are desperate for Jesus."

(I'd encourage you to read the entire article here Your Church Needs This More Than a New Coffee Bar)

What I'd like to reiterate here is, There are people who need someone to be a friend, and keep them in prayer. Regardless to how" messy" a relationship might be.

Philippians 2:3

Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].

We totally understand how difficult it is to open yourself up to all that goes with possibly becoming involved in others lives. Trust us we do, no one is more reserved or shy than my Mom, and she does enjoy a "quite routine life".

Sometimes, God wants us to step out of our comfort zone by simply doing His will, (getting involved in peoples lives) putting others and their needs before ourselves; and maybe in the process get a little messy by showing others Gods love, and compassion.

Love and Peace,

Molly and my Mom

Quotes and Links

(1) Practical Ways to Weep with Those Who Weep

(2) Intercessory Prayer: How Does God Want Us to Pray for Others?

(3) Your Church Needs This More Than a New Coffee Bar

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Forgetting Those Old Bones

7/30/2018

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We pups are famous for wanting to dig up old bones. Sadly there's a lot of hoomans with the same problem. With us pups it's simply a normal response to an accepted drive. We never really suffer any serious repercussions from this instinct.

It's a different story with our people. When they bury something it's typically best it stays buried. LOL let me clarify this a bit.

After God gets our hoomans through a difficult situation they can have a desire to go back and replay or resurrect those old and painful memories. This doesn't do anyone any good.

If God brings you to the other side of a tough place in your life you're never going to properly heal if you keep going back to relive the past. We all want to understand what happened and where things went wrong, but at times we'll never know why we've experienced certain things. Job never gets an answer from God as to why he suffered as he did.

Job 38:1-18

There are mysteries beyond human comprehension, such as, how to make a world or how to explain suffering. Job is advised to recognize human limits and trust that God will take care of what Job and others cannot know or do. (1)

Corrie Ten Boom (2)

Tells a story of a little girl who breaks one of her mother's favorite demitasse cups. The child comes to her mother sobbing because she's broken the cup. "Mother I'm sorry I broke your beautiful cup." The mother replies, "I know you're sorry and I forgive you. Now don't cry anymore". The mother sweeps up the pieces and throws them away.

The little girl couldn't get over her feelings of guilt, goes to the trash picking out the pieces of the broken cup, again goes to her mother crying. "Mother, I'm soo sorry I broke your pretty cup.

This time her mother speaks firmly to her, "Put those pieces to the trash and don't be silly enough to take them out again. I told you I forgive you so don't cry anymore."

Don't keep holding on to your pain, or guilt or whatever your old bones may be. When God brings you through something, He's brought you through it. He doesn't want you going back picking through the trash to relive the pain of the past.

Isaiah 43:18-19

18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Mom and I have never been a real country music fan, but we have both always loved Randy Travis and his music. LOL Strange huh? There aren't many country singers that are as country as him.

Mom's favorite Randy Travis song is "Digging Up Bones". This is a perfect example of the pain we can inflict on ourselves if we don't leave the past where it belongs, in the past, with the door shut. God brings us through difficult places so we can see the new things He's doing in our lives.

Let's leave those Old Bones buried dear furiends and not cause ourselves any undue pain and heartache. Let's keep our eyes to the future and remember

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Love and Peace,

Molly and my Mom

Quotes

(1) Job 38:1-18

(2) Corrie Ten Boom Quote from

Hope for Each Day (Words of Wisdom and Faith) Billy Graham Page 144 May 5th

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I Have a Dead Body to Bury

7/26/2018

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The other day I found myself telling a good buddy something my Mom had told me many years before when I had been hurt by someone I'd considered a friend. I told them, "A friend is someone who is always there, regardless to how much time may go by, regardless to whether one or the other's feelings may have been hurt. You don't have to chase after a friend, or beg them for their friendship. It's always there".

There's a cute quote that I simply love as it truly sums things up. "Best friends are those who, when you show up at their door w/a dead body, at 2:00 am say nothing, grab a shovel & follow you".

Now don't misunderstand, we aren't speaking of literal dead bodies here, LOL no, we're speaking of the metaphorical type. The kind we all have, and the older we become the more we develop.

Now that I've grown older friendships have come and gone, and I realize the truth in my Mothers words. The bible even mentions this in,

Proverbs 18:24

24 Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.

True furiends and friends are someone who's always there, regardless to how much time has gone by, or what events may have taken place in each other's lives. We don't have to chase them, we don't have to beg them for their time. They're simply there when you need them. They seem to know instinctively when you need a kind word or simply a hug. They desire the best for you and want to be in your lives. You are a priority to them.

We all have that one friend who is always there wanting to help us with our dead bodies, and all the problems that go with that. All we have to do is simply call on His name and Jesus will be there in a heartbeat. Sure at times we all try to bury our dead bodies ourselves. I know Mom and I have. We get caught up in thinking these are our problems and by George we can fix them. Jesus says,

Matthew 18:2

2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

There's isn't a one of us who didn't depend on our parents to help us with all of our problems when we were small. When we get older we think we have to take care of our troubles ourselves. With Jesus in our lives that isn't the case anymore. We need to stop and remind ourselves of this. Jesus says,

Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Jesus also says in ,

Proverbs 18:24

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

There is a beautiful example of the friendship we all long for and desire (which can't truly be found in the earthly realm) in Ruth.

Ruth 1:16-17

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you

I remember hearing Mom and a friend of hers saying, "God never once promises us life will be easy. What He does say is He will be with us through the hard times and He will help us get through them.

This has proven to be true in our lives here. God answered my folks prayers and some of my vision was restored. Mom and Dad prayed that Mom would feel better and get some of her life back after she developed Diabetes. He answered that prayer too.

It hasn't been an easy road. There have certainly been a few pot holes, and some detours along the way. We can say when we've showed up on Jesus's door step with our dead bodies He's grabbed a shovel and helped us with the work. No questions asked.

Love and Peace,

Molly and my Mom

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One for the Peeps

7/20/2018

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Every now and then I write a blog for our hoomans. Let's face it, if not for them where would we be? I know my life would be considerably different had I not gotten the folks I did. My prime go to example is when I developed SARDS at the young age of just 5 years old. My folks noticed I wasn't seeing my ball as well as I'd used to. This got their curiosity up and promptly took me to my dogtor. She diagnosed me with SARDS, which is a very time sensitive progressive visual disease.

(Sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome SARDS) is a disease in dogs causing sudden blindness. It can occur in any breed, but female dogs may be predisposed. Approximately 4000 cases are seen in the United States annually.)

I was rushed to an animal specialty emergency clinic where they did an experimental treatment on me and thanks to God answering prayers, dogtors with incredible talent, and my very attentive caring pawrents some of my vision has been restored. (I have to tell you I'm a bit of a celebrity there. They told me most dogs don't get their sight back.)

That being said, our pawrents take wonderful care of us, so I wanted to give a little back to our peeps in sharing a bit about my Mom's experiences with diabetes. I want to share Mom's story so they can see that with time, dedication, exercise, and diet they can regain control of their life and health.

My grandmother, (my Mom's Mom) was a very serious, diabetic. Sadly diabetes can be hereditary and sure enough Mom became diabetic.

What only a few of our furiends know is Mom was house-bound for several years due to her diabetes. She had been told by her doctors that all she had to do was watch her diet and take her medication. This didn't prove to be the case. Mom kept getting sicker and feeling worse. This progressed to her being housebound and barely able to take me on my one mile walk down our driveway and to the pond. If she and Dad went to do any shopping Mom would give Dad a list and stay in the car while he took care of the shopping.

The folks were very confused and didn't understand what was going on with Mom's health. After all she was only fifty. They both wondered if it was typical for people to be so sick at just 50 years old.

Not wanting to go on even more medication for her diabetes Mom started spending hours online reading information about controlling your blood sugar as well as diets for diabetics. She even made a phone call to their insurance company one day. Something the lady told her stuck, and that was the beginning of Mom getting her life back. They were talking about getting older and the changes that occur with our bodies as we age, when the lady said,

"You know we were never meant to sit all day, and as we age that becomes even more of a challenge for our bodies that have developed diabetes. Walking lowers your blood sugar so possibly walking after you eat a meal may be part of a solution".

That was the beginning of Mom's goal of walking 5 miles a day. (Now we understand everyone might not want to walk 5 miles a day). That's completely fine. Just get up, walk and move.

Walking lowers your blood sugar considerably. Mom breaks up her walking to 3 or 4 times a day depending on how her blood sugar is running. (Most days now it's either normal or slightly higher than normal anywhere from 86-103). She'll walk after every meal, and before bed.

The next big change was her diet. Mom had to adopt a zero carbohydrate diet. This translates to No, bread, pasta, rice, potatoes. Yups zero. She also eats no grains, or sugar (all recipes calling for sugar or honey etc she substitutes Splenda Blend) at all.

The doctors had told her she could eat whole wheat bread, and limited carbohydrates but this simply didn't work for her. Mom got sick, felt horrible and stayed that way for several years following their advice.

Until she started reading and applying the info she found on controlling your diabetes, and getting rid of the carbohydrates. You're right if you thought this translates to eating a LOT of salads. LOL It did indeed for a few years.

Mom gradually began to feel better. This resulted in her A1C numbers getting lower, not to mention all the weight she'd lost. Life was getting better and I was getting my Mom back.

Eating salads for 4-5 years does begin to get old, even though you experience all the health benefits that go with eating a more plant based diet.

Now Mom was on a different mission, finding recipes that were healthier versions of the foods she loved and had to give up. She did indeed find substitute recipes for everything she'd loved in the past.

She found a pizza crust made from zucchini squash that even Dad will eat and not complain about. (recipe link)

Mom also has found bread recipes that have anywhere from 0-2 net carbs per slice or Hamburger Bun.

Soul Bread Hamburger Buns

Soul Bread

Almond Flour Brownies

Thin Mints

We're not going to tell you these recipes are going to taste exactly like the foods you loved before you developed diabetes. What we will tell you is these are acceptable substitutes that will make your challenging life journey with diabetes a bit more tolerable, and your diet more enjoyable.

Most of the recipes Mom uses are either Keto Based or Paleo Based recipes. You can Google low carb, Keto or Paleo recipes and find something that will make your taste buds tingle.

This hasn't been an easy journey for my Mom. At times it's been difficult to watch her struggle as she's conquered this latest challenge in her life; and if we're completely honest you truly never conquer diabetes you simply manage it on a day to day basis. We wanted to share this with you all to let you know getting your blood glucose levels back into the normal range is doable. If my Mom can do it anyone can. (Of course I think my Mom is exceptional), but as far as hoomans go, there's no difference between my Mom and your pawrents.

If your hooman is following their doctors advice for diabetes control and not getting better, tell them to get a second opinion, or research online as my Mom did and find another alternative. (One that seems medically sound we don't want you doing something that may jeopardize your health even more)

Walking five miles a day everyday can get tough...sometimes prayer is what got her through that last quarter mile. Eating salads everyday for a couple of years gets equally hard.... LOL Prayer got Mom through that too, and then miraculously she finds recipes for low carb breads, cookies and even cakes. It took Mom several years to get where she is today. The thing is she simply never gave up. Life gets better furiends and with God all things are possible.

We hope our sharing this helps those of you having difficulty managing your blood sugar. Trust us we understand how discouraging this can be. Please know you have our thoughts and prayers as you go through this challenge in your life.

I told Mom to share a few of her most used staples with her low carb cooking. One thing she and Dad eat a lot of now is Shirataki Pasta with Mexican dishes and stir fries (click the high lighted text to learn more about Shirataki Noodles). You can find them at most health food markets, and even some Walmarts. Please read all info you can find about how to prepare them as some people don't particularly care for the smell when you first open the bag. We're not bothered by the odor (which isn't noticeable at all after rinsing and cooking them as directed).

Shirataki Noodles

Hoosier Hill Farm Whey Protein Powder

Bobs Red Mill Super fine Almond Flour

Xanthan Gum

Muffin Top Pan (to make Hamburger Buns)

We feel the need to place a disclaimer in this blog post.

Neither Mom nor myself are dieticians, or medical professionals. Mom is simply someone who has had a rather challenging experience in controlling her blood sugar due to Diabetes.

Please do Not make any changes to your diet without first consulting your medical doctor. This blog is simply information for you to consider. Though this route has proven successful for Mom this doesn't make it medically sound for others.

Love and Peace,

Molly and my Mom

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Learning as we Grow

7/11/2018

2 Comments

Being proper southern ladies Mom and I both keep our hair trimmed and ourselves looking as best we can. You reach a certain age in life and, as a very dear old friend of my Mom's told her in no uncertain terms, "While that look (jeans and tee shirt hair in pony tail) may have worked for you from your teenage years until possibly your 30'es it's not doing you any favors now that you're 60".

BOL Yeps Mom's friend actually told her this. Thankfully this was a word from a dear old friend and not a stranger on the street. We have never forgotten this, and so do indeed, try, to put our best foot forward when we leave the house.

The folks dropped me off for my hair appointment and low and behold there was another precious furiend waiting to get their hair done as well. We began chatting about one thing and another and they asked how I was enjoying the new chapel in the woods.
I personally find it very difficult to be "politically correct" or" tactful", so I simply told the truth. I hadn't been to church in a while due to becoming dreadfully emotional while sharing in my Sunday School class. I was a bit apprehensive over how my class might react to my returning. Regretfully I myself, as well as my Mom suffer from a bit of social anxiety, and can in our own minds blow something rather trivial into the most tremendous mountain.

Now over the course of time dear furiends had sent cards and had even made phone calls requesting that I return to my class and church. I had tentatively considered the idea, but my fears typically got the best of me.

Something Mom and I have been talking about lately is perception and truth..We as individuals will say the truth is how we perceive it to be, when someone else looking at the same situation will see a different truth.

Imagine an art teacher walking through her students who are drawing a still life in the center of the room. As she looks over one shoulder then another, all have indeed drawn a still life, but none of them are exactly alike. Each student has drawn what they perceive to be the visual truth with their own eyes, and have replicated it to the best of their artistic abilities.

Sharing my story with my friend, she pointed out that we each need to let our lights shine; and though we may find it difficult at times, we always need to press through our fears. She kindly suggested I return to my Sunday School class and church before I simply didn't. Now this was indeed a word in due season. With social anxiety it is truly easier to stay at home and not subject yourself to people, crowds, trying to be polite and engaging.

I thought about it a while and decided she was probably right as I would be much happier not having to go back to class and explain my reasons for my absence and have to speak in front of a group of pups. Though I have chosen the path of least resistance in the past, this wasn't going to be one of those times.

Life and the challenges it brings us won't hurt us, unless we let it consume our lives with fear and inhibitions, or harden our hearts, making us sour, bitter and hesitate to trust that God has it all under control.

1 Peter:7-9

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.

I'm sorry to say, "For several months I was right where the devil wanted me. (As another sweet furiend gently reminded me). Home, and not with my church family". Sometimes it's easier to trust the images the devil would show us, rather than taking a breath, and telling our Heavenly Father our fears and handing them to Him. My new prayer is that He will help me to see His truth, and to not let me trust my own perception of things, as my perception is clouded by social anxiety already.

If we look at our troubles and fears as an opportunity to learn more of our Fathers love, and His ability to help us in our times of need then we can see Gods miracles in action. We need to learn to trust God with a childlike dependence on Him. When we do that, no trouble can devastate us or destroy us. Our Father reminds of us this in

Matthew 18:1-14

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

St. Threses of Lisieux mentions this in

"Her Last Conversations "The Yellow NoteBook" Page 139

(1)She always strove to stay a little child. It means to recognize our nothingness, to expect everything from God as a little child expects everything from its father; it is to be disquieted and concerned about nothing. To be little is not attributing to oneself the virtues one practices, believing oneself capable of anything. but to recognize that God places these treasures in the hands of His children.; to be used when necessary; but they are always Gods treasures. Finally it is not to be overcome or discouraged by our faults, for children often fall, but they rarely do themselves much harm.

We can ask our Father to remove our trials and there's nothing wrong with this, but for the most part our problems don't go away, as my dear furiend said, we simply need to press on until we get to the other side. We should ask our Father what He would have us learn from this situation and let our problems draw us closer to Him. Just as a child learns valuable lessons sitting at his Father's feet so can we, if we draw close to Him during our times of trouble.

My lesson was to simply not be overcome by my fears of showing my weakness before others, to not trust my perceptions, which are clouded by my social anxiety. I'd have you know after I shared my reason for not coming to Bible Class my sweet sisters told me they didn't even remember my getting emotional, and the ones that did were so very understanding; and told me I simply hadn't been there long enough to see them become emotional. As children we all fall down, and our Father is always there to pick us up, if we simply come to Him and ask.

We all experience our own trials, and we all go through our own personal fires on this earth. Handel's Hallelujah Chorus was written when he was poverty stricken and suffering from a paralyzed right side and arm. Affliction no matter how small or large can make us stronger in our faith and develop our confidence as we witness God watching over us and leading us through our storms.

Billy Graham mentions "Whatever the reason, if God sends affliction our way, we should take it in faith as a blessing and not a curse". I can tell you I'm not there yet. I as a small child still stumble and fall. I'm getting back on my feet dear furiends, and I'm learning when I am weak, He is strong.

Love, and Peace,

Molly and my Mom

Quotes

(1) St. Threses of Lisieux "Her Last Conversations "

Billy Graham Hope for each Day Words of Wisdom and Faith

Here's Handel's Hallelujah Chorus

2 Comments

Allegiance to the Flag and the Fourth of July

6/28/2018

2 Comments

This has been an interesting kind of week hasn't it? There are things that get repeated thought-out one's lifetime and over time you learn why.

Here in the south (though I'm sure it's more places than here) you constantly hear people say they refuse to talk about religion and politics. (In this blog we're going to hit on both. Mom and I are simple folk, and we have no desire to get caught up in conflicts and conversations we don't pretend to know anything about, so bear with us on this one).

Now Mom and I's question, " How is that so, when every time you turn on the tellie, log onto FB or the POTUS favorite social media tool Twitter you see inflammatory political comments, or the news reporting situations that make you blush for all involved."

Red Hen Owner

Maxine Waters

Donald Trumps Tweets about Red Hen Owner

We understand the zeal that drives the human heart to create unimaginable beauty, to write breathe taking sonnets, that leads the mind and heart to add life and meaning to a script from a play. By the same token, this passion when unfettered, or unbridled can wreak indescribable pain and harm to ourselves and others.

Peter in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 gives an example of running a race and the self-control required for winning said race. He closes this example with the statement " But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." Please excuse my paraphrasing but he's careful what he says, and does, so that nothing inflammatory can be linked to his message. I'm certain that Peter was a very passionate speaker, yet he managed to discipline his body, mind and speech. Maybe we should attempt to imitate Peter and try to be respectful of the impact our words and actions could have on others.

When Mom was growing up she went to a rural county school and every morning before class they would recite The Pledge of Allegiance. They would place their hands over their hearts and one child from the class would get the honor of holding the flag.

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

One nation "indivisible". Our prayer for this Fourth of July is that we all truly embrace the idea of one nation indivisible. That we come together with one heart and one mind. I pray for unity, regardless to our political beliefs, that we think back to a time when we all agreed to simply disagree, and went on with our lives and our friendships.

Hopefully the powers that be will see that at this point and time in the history of the U.S. we have certain problems that could be addressed and resolved more quickly if we laid aside our differences and collectively attempted to find solutions, rather than to name call and incite discord.

We need to remind ourselves from time to time that as individuals we can far exceed our own and others expectations, and we can certainly surpass the examples set before us.

Now if we can accomplish all that individually, think what we could achieve together. Aristotle said it best when he said, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Have a Safe and Happy Fourth of July dear furiends and friends.

Love and Peace Molly and my Mom

Here's an oldie goldie Mom and I thought of while writing this blog

Enjoy

2 Comments

About That F-Word

6/20/2018

4 Comments

It's hibernating weather here in our part of the stiflingly humid south. Around the end of May Mom and I start dreaming about Fall. Ahhh...we can hardly wait.

Anyway, back to hibernating in the AC, this is our thing on days like today. I'll dash out, take care of business and dash back in. I kind of like this part of summer.

Mom and I get to spend a lot of time inside chatting. No one hates the heat, mosquitoes, ticks, horseflies, or gnats more than Mom. If she's not swatting them she's imagining they're close by, waiting to stealth bomb her at any minute. This makes it difficult to get any sort of reply other than uh hu or what did you say?

Yesterday as my FB followers already know was my Dad's Birthday. Yups, he just turned the big 59. Mom decided she'd take the old guy out to one of his favorite BBQ's places to celebrate. They had a wonderful time and the food was great as always.

Just as the meal was ending a waitress came over to clean the table bedside the folks. She, being terribly busy and in a rush, dropped the condiment tray on the floor splashing BBQ sauce alll over the Mom and Dad. This never turned into the drama I'm sure you're imagining. Dad, who bore the brunt of the condiment attack, simply went into the bathroom and cleaned himself up. Mom mopped up some of the floor and cleaned off her purse. In the course of cleaning her purse, she knocked over her beverage and then commenced to mopping up the other side of the table and floor...

Now I know you, my followers, don't have a clue what my Mom is like, but I do. Today my Mom just looks at things and lets it go. Her philosophy is for the most part, "just go with it".

In the past, Mom was simply hell on wheels. She felt there wasn't a wrong on this earth she wasn't put here to set straight; and she honestly didn't care who it was that needed to be set straight, she could handle it. For the most part she did just that. There was no fool she suffered lightly. Nopes, not a one.

Forgiveness wasn't a word in her vocabulary either. Old age has mellowed my Mom a lot. Don't misunderstand me, she's a work in progress. There's a story I remember of someone sharing about a conversation they had with Ruth Graham. "They were driving along and saw a sign that said, construction ahead, thank you for your patience". According to the tale Mrs. Graham liked that sign a lot. She thought it applied to we Christians. It truly does apply to my Mom, there's a fair amount of construction that needs to be done ahead.

That's ok, as our Heavenly Father is faithful to put situations in our paths according to the areas that are still under construction. One of those, for my Mom, is still forgiveness. I told her we pups can teach our hoomans a lot. I can forgive my Mom and Dad anything a thousand times over. That's simply the way I'm made.

By the same token we dogs don't have the health issues connected to stress and lack of forgiveness that humans do. (I guess Mom isn't the only one that struggles with this one).

(1) Whether it’s a simple spat with your spouse or long-held resentment toward a family member or friend, unresolved conflict can go deeper than you may realize—it may be affecting your physical health. The good news: Studies have found that the act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, lowering the risk of heart attack; improving cholesterol levels and sleep; and reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression and stress. And research points to an increase in the forgiveness-health connection as you age.

There is an enormous physical burden to being hurt and disappointed,” says Karen Swartz, M.D., director of the Mood Disorders Adult Consultation Clinic at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Chronic anger puts you into a fight-or-flight mode, which results in numerous changes in heart rate, blood pressure and immune response. Those changes, then, increase the risk of depression, heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions. Forgiveness, however, calms stress levels, leading to improved health.
Forgiveness is not just about saying the words. “It is an active process in which you make a conscious decision to let go of negative feelings whether the person deserves it or not.

Luke 6:37

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

That's a lot of forgiveness.

(2) Forgiveness is for our own growth and happiness. When we hold on to hurt, pain, resentment, and anger it harms us far more than it harms the offender.
Forgiveness frees us to live in the present. Reliving the wrong that was done to us keeps us living in the past and missing today’s beauty.

Forgiveness allows us to move on without anger or contempt or seeking revenge. As Confucius said about revenge, “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” This applies as much to the spirit of anger behind the desire for revenge as much as to revenge itself. Even if you do not actively seek revenge, holding on to your anger brings you down.

Forgiveness brings you back to good spiritual, physical and mental health. The systems of the body respond to negative emotions, affecting the immune system in ways that would blow your mind. Releasing those emotions is a good thing.
Forgiveness clears the cobwebs so that you can see the good in life again.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We're only human, we all have short comings, and to be honest we're all going to fail at meeting the expectations of others. If God can forgive us, can we not try to follow His example and forgive those who have hurt us?

Myself I do keep trying. I think of Ruth Graham's "Construction ahead thank you for your patience", sign and I smile. Honestly I'm not sure how many miles there are until we hit the Construction Completed notification, and I'm certain I'll never go through life with the grace of Ruth Graham.

I'll keep on mopping up the spilled BBQ Sauce through out my life with whatever bit of grace I can muster in the moment, and remember "to err is human, to forgive is divine" Alexander Pope.

Molly looks at her Mom busily typing away and says, "Mom you're 15 min. late on taking me potty, but I forgive you". BOL

Love and Peace,

Molly and my Mom

Sources of our Quotes

(1) John Hopkins Medicine Healthy Aging

For some reason the above link doesn't work Plz copy and past the IP address below in your browser

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/healthy_aging/healthy_connections/forgiveness-your-health-depends-on-it

(2) The Good Men Project The Importance of Forgiveness

4 Comments

The Flickering Flame

6/17/2018

3 Comments

Gazing out the window from her perch early Sunday morning Molly's thoughts turn back several years to another morning. She and Tabby Cat were chatting about nothing and everything. Tabby loved sharing tales and somehow or other they all had a message.

Smiling and thinking to herself that regardless to how much time had passed Tabby's tales were still relevant. Molly knew in her heart she would be thinking back to their chats hunting for little tidbits of truth for many years to come.

Tabby was talking about the state of the humans heart and how it didn't matter what century we were living in certain truths would always apply. Such as how a little kindness could accomplish indescribable miracles.

(1)Mother Teresa was canonized a saint on Sunday, September 4 2016. The sisters have a vision that runs like electricity through all of their houses. And that is to serve, without getting noticed, without pride, without a pat on the back, without the instant gratification of, say, more social media followers. Once you change that perspective, once you see how every little thing, every little interaction, every little task matters, watch the joy unfold. Because the genius of the soul is not just compassion, it’s kindness. Kindness is compassion in action. And that is living like there is heaven on earth. Because it is here.

(Here being, when and where you let our Savior shine through your life and your heart regardless to what you may be personally going through. It's denying yourself and allowing God.)

Colossians 3:23,24 __23 Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, 24because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.…

Matthew 5:15,16 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

This simply act of obedience sets something heavenly free in your heart, and in your life.

Moving on Tabby shared his favorite story of the lamp from the book of St. Therese Of Lisieux Her Last Conversations. (Now this is a paraphrased version passed down from one cat generation to another throughout several centuries of cats that lived at Carmel monastery in Lisieux France. (Tabby always swore he was a decedent of a Grey Tabby Cat that lived there at the monastery).

A cat who lived at the monastery wanted to light the candles for a funeral procession there at the church. Realizing he had no matches, he was greatly disappointed.

As he started walking out the church doors he noticed a little lamp burning in the entryway. Getting closer the cat sadly saw the lamp was almost out. There was only the smallest of flames flickering in the lamp. Quickly he lit his candle as he knew the flame would be going out any min.

Knowing now he would be able to complete his task the cat took his candle and lit all the candles in the sanctuary. (2) It was, therefore, the half-extinguished little lamp which had produced all these beautiful flames, which in their turn, could produce an infinity of others and even light the entire universe.

Nevertheless, it would always be the little lamp, which would be the first cause of all of this light. It's truly God's miracle that a fire, can be started by a single flickering flame.

May we do our tasks with kindness, however small they may be, that others are drawn to our light (our Heavenly Father), and we begin our own fires that may "even light the entire universe".

Love and Peace,

Molly and my Mom

Sources of our Quotes

(1) Fox News Opinion

(2) St Therese Of Lisieux Her Last Conversations (The Yellow Notebook #5 Pg 99)

Enjoy our favorite version of This Little Light of Mine

3 Comments

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Brokenness

Thankful for Thursday

Getting Messy

Forgetting Those Old Bones

I Have a Dead Body to Bury

One for the Peeps

Learning as we Grow

Allegiance to the Flag and the Fourth of July

About That F-Word

The Flickering Flame

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