Too much all at once.....

Here comes another Lucy blog.  Yesterday was Lucy’s day at the groomer.  She usually goes after lunch.  But today her appointment was at 9:00.  Lucy, at almost six, is not a morning dog. She sleeps in long after we are both up; long after Tommy leaves for work; long after I have made enough noise in the kitchen to wake the dead; and way longer than most frisky working dogs like our granddog, Raider.   It might be close to ten o’clock before she even goes out.  I did make her go out before we left but never noticed if she had any water.  I took the opportunity  to wash her bowls while she was gone and fill her water bowl with fresh water. Four hours after I left her there they called that she was ready.  When she comes in from the groomer she heads straight to her water for a drink and promptly outside for her potty break.  I did not notice that yesterday she started drinking and never stopped until her bowl was dry.  Guess that should have been my first clue that she never got a drink before we left.  Within 15 minutes Lucy had thrown up copious amounts of water three times.  Looking sad and somewhat ashamed (actually wasn’t her fault; or was it) she watched as I placed a beach towel over it each time; thanking God that she choose to do this on the wood floors and not carpeted bedrooms. I felt badly that my lack of paying attention had led to this yucky situation for both of us. I thought how similar this situation relates to our spiritual appetites.  There are times on our spiritual journey; when, for whatever the reason, we forget or cease to take a drink from the living water.  The times when life steers us astray with business.  The times when life gives us a huge speed bump and we are thrown off course.  The times when tragedy strikes close to home and we become just angry enough at a loving God to move away and refuse to drink from the well.  The times that require us to step back and heal what ails us.  The times when a move to another locale necessitates a delay in getting that drink.  The times we move so far away from Him that we forget just how great that drink of His closeness and love tastes. Always the loving parent, God will woo us; gently quietly pursuing us to come back to Him.  I like to think that He woos us equally; differently for each of His children, but wooing the same.  Never failing, always close; He tugs at our hearts to return to Him for the first or another drink of his water.  Like Lucy, maybe we just forget; maybeours schedules are thrown off with timing; maybe anxiety or fear or anger causes us to retreat. No matter our reason; He will not give up.  When we give in to the courting and wooing, our hearts develop an unsatiable thirst that must be quenched.  If we are wise and mature (never the case this side of Heaven) we will sip the living water; savoring each small drink, letting it’s effects infuse His love in us.  More than likely; we, like Lucy, will be so relieved to be back that will continue to quench our souls until we are over filled. Like Lucy, there is probably others around us that will watch over, guiding us to take it slow; not letting our fear of the water running dry overcome the wisdom the save some for later.  Then we too stands the risk of throwing up spiritually. Retaining some and definitely losing some. Not the end of the world. Lucy’s problem was short-lived and caused no great harm. Just a matter to be learned from for the next time we slip a little away from Him.  Let us rest in the fact that He will never tire of wooing us.  He loves to give to His children what they need..Blessings, Martha

Isaiah 44:3-4   “For I will pour water upon him who is thirsty, and floods upon the ground.I will pour My spirit upon your offspring, and My blessing upon your descendants.”