So, three weeks ago we rescued this mixed-mutt from the Irvine Animal Shelter. On our way to pay a bunch of money to a breeder for another Pomeranian, we stopped by the shelter on a whim. There he was, a mix of who knows what. A little Chihuahua. A little Corgy. Maybe a little Pom. Perhaps raccoon. Nikki’s heart went out to the little guy and all I wanted was a dog for her to love, something to replace our beloved Little Bear, who we put down last summer. So, we adopted him. On the spot. In about 45 minutes. Named him Jasper. Cool move by this loving husband to bless his wife.
Jasper, it turns out, is everything I don’t want in a dog. People who visit can’t reach down to pet him because he snaps. He’s a snapper. He snapped at Nikki on the way home from the shelter. He just missed mangling my son’s hand. Nikki, who loves a lap dog to snuggle with, can barely pet Jasper. She pats him for a moment, he gives her a dirty look, and heads the other way. He won’t sit on her lap. He isn’t nice to her. He growls. He’s aloof. Besides all of that, Jasper is picky. He won’t eat out of the bowl so Nikki spreads food on the kitchen floor. Then he eats. Yeah, nutty. We can’t leave him in our back yard because he’s a yapper. Yap, yap, yap. Jasper barks at everything from his shadow to absolutely nothing. He barks to bark, yapping rapid-fire in this high-pitched screech. My brother-in-law next door pleaded, “Please, do something.”
But that’s not the worst. Not even close. The worst is this. Jasper is completely enamored with ME. He has insane attachment hunger. He can’t leave me alone. He insists on sitting in my lap every time I plop down. But I DON’T WANT A DOG IN MY LAP constantly. It’s annoying. Please, just give me some space. It bugs me. When he sees me he wags his tail so hard he almost falls over. And he’s under my feet all the time. Try and slip into the bathroom and he scratches madly at the door, whimpering and whining. It’s obnoxious as #^&$ and I can’t take it. There’s more. The dog just stares at me for hours. With these big moon eyes. Head tilted slightly, looking almost stoned. But I don’t want anybody staring at me. Just stop. It’s spooky. Weird. Agitating. Somebody help!!
I can take Jasper back to the animal shelter. They give you 30 days. Considering it. But I wonder what God thinks about all of this. Is Jasper my cross? What should I do?
Prayer Focus This Week: On a much more serious note, these need our prayers…
- Three people in our church applying for new jobs
- Two pastors I’m aware of with severe marriage issues
- Kori Kelso’s grandmother; surgery on Wednesday at 98; may God give her a bunch more years
- David Kessner – Lyme’s disease complications
- Rickie Scott – ongoing back problems
- Healing – Pricilla Roach’s dad; Joe DeBone’s dad; Rhona, my nephew’s wife (severe neurological issues); Dorrie Skadal; Denise de la Torre; Lou; Tom Lamb
- Peggy Hank; moving to San Juan Capistrano from Anaheim to be cared for by family
A Few Powerful Sayings…
- “Earth‘s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God, but only those who see take off their shoes. The rest sit around and pluck blackberries.” Elizabeth Barrett Browning
- “We must allow people to make mistakes because we are then allowed to be like God – to give grace, show mercy, and impart forgiveness.” Graham Cooke
- “The soul is healed by being with children.” Fyodor Dostoevsky
- “God is a verb.” Buckminster Fuller
Scriptures of the Week: Psalms 27, 34, 46, 63, 66, 84, 103 – The best of the best in my humble opinion
I love all of you in the Lord (well, most of the time),
Pastor Jay