After the Storm

It was a perfectly peaceful afternoon yesterday when all of a sudden - BAM! A clap of thunder hit so suddenly it shook the house. In one leap Sarah was on her feet standing in front of me with her eyes all wild-looking and this expression on her face that said, "Well! You know what to do!"

I slid forward so she could jump up behind me in the recliner. She burrowed her head down between my leg and the side of the chair. After a few seconds she re-surfaced, looked around and started panting like she just finished running a marathon.

I'm happy to say we survived the storm.

I was reminded of a storm years ago when I was at the beach with several family members. There was an incredible storm at sea. It was so powerful, so beautiful we turned all the lights out and sat in the living room and watched the storm for hours. One of my little cousins said, "It's as if God designed us our very own light show!

As beautiful as it was I couldn't help but wonder about any ships at sea in the path of that storm. It might seem a thing of beauty from far away but when we're right in the middle of it, the storm isn't so beautiful. 

It's all a matter of perspective ... which takes me back to Sarah. 

I'm pretty sure I need the Dog Whisperer to come to the rescue.
I love a rainy afternoon -- it is so relaxing. 
Sarah, however, starts shaking as if on cue the minute it starts raining --- never mind the thunder!

So yesterday the storm gradually fades away. We hear thunder in the distance, growing weaker and farther away.

I was amazed as I noticed something Sarah was doing: she would stop panting and listen. If she heard any rain or thunder she started panting again. It was as if she had conditioned herself to panting being connected with the storm. Good grief!

As much as I was rolling my eyes over this observation I realized how similar that behavior is to ... me!

We all react differently in the storms of life.
I've noticed my behavior has been different the past few years from all the rest of my life. I realize this is due to feelings of insecurity. I continue to deal with short-term memory loss issues therefore I don't trust my ability to make decisions. I lean very heavily on my brother, Dan, to help me.

I guess you could say I pant through the challenging times -- only coming up for air long enough to stop freaking out and look around to see if the storm has passed! It makes me wonder ... have my feelings of insecurity rubbed off on my dog? 

We never know how much of an influence we are.

I pray that, with this new understanding of our responses to the storms in our life I can work on my own responses and, in turn, help Sarah too.

Enjoying the Journey,

Debra

bebprov356.blogspot.com 

Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

-- Proverbs 3:5-6