Little Lilly...my bundle of love
Lilly in her winter coat ready for our first walk
Sweet Lilly is home now. It hasn’t even been 48 hours yet and she already feels like part of the family. There are so many reasons that she has stolen my heart…
She is a complete cuddle bug. Perfectly content to just sit on my lap (as she’s doing right now) and snuggle. She is attentive and playful. She is responsive to what I tell her to do. She is social and loves every other human being she has met. She loves our other dogs. She listens to my voice and comes when I call her name. She has gone to stores and a basketball game with me. We have gone on walks. And she does all of it so happily. She is a love.
I am hoping to team up with my friend soon so that Lilly can become a service dog, going to work with those with Alzheimer’s and patients and parents at Children’s Hospital. I love her and she has brought me such joy in just these two short days. But I need to spread the wealth and let her sweet personality and demeanor bring joy to others, too.
In watching Lilly, I have seen so many examples of the joy that we can bring to Jesus’ heart. Like Lilly, I want to listen for my Master’s voice and respond. To be fully content in sitting with Him, in joining Him on the journey, and in just doing every part of life with Him. I want to be so devoted that I follow Him wherever He leads. To understand fully that He is the hand that feeds me, that gives me everything I enjoy and experience in life.
Last night, as Lilly and I were sitting at the high school basketball game, people continually came up and asked if she was my dog. Then they would ask to hold her and I would watch as their hearts would melt right in front of my eyes when she nestled into their arms. If gave me such a deep sense of joy to watch others smile and fall in love with my little 2 pound bundle of fur.
I hope that when other’s see me, they know who my Master is, or at least ask. I hope that as I interact with others that I bring not only a smile, but a sense of the deep love and great hope that come from my Master. God brings those people to my life for me to have an impact on, and it brings Him incredible joy to watch and be a part of those interactions.
Part of readying Lilly to be a service dog, I need to socialize her. To take her to places where she will meet many different types of people. To expose her to different situations. To let people touch and hold her and to let her touch them. It prepares her for service. It grows her and develops her ability to be flexible and open to new things and people. If I just kept her all to myself, she would miss out on a lot of joy in life. Others would miss out on what she has to offer.
The same is true of me. I want to be available to touch other people’s lives. To do that, I need to follow Jesus to the places and people He brings into my life. Each experience that He brings me through is training for my “service” to others. And the result for all involved? Joy!
Sometimes when Lilly falls asleep next to me, I will pet her softly and she will position herself so that her entire being is wrapped around my hand. She wants to make sure that I am there, touching her little life. I want my life to be wrapped up In Jesus’ hands, too. To continually look up and position myself to be right where He is.
Each day will be a little different with Lilly. New adventures. More cuddling. Ongoing learning. I want to view my life with Jesus that way. That the things He does with and for and through me are because He loves me so much. And every aspect of that journey is meant to bond us a little more each day.
Thank you, sweet Lilly. You’ve already taught me so much…
Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Ephesians 3:18 – And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
John 10:27 – My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
