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

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

~ Proverbs 3:3-6

This is a testimony about my dog, cultural idols and convictions. The content may be a bit distressing, but remember the verse above. There is a happy ending!

My dear Sister,

First, know that I like my dog! She’s a sweet tempered Basset Hound that loves naps and doesn’t stink too bad. (Remember, I’ve raised 5 boys, I’m acquainted with stink) Her name is Nutmeg, ‘Nutter’ for short.

When not fixing her big brown eyes on me in adoration, Nutmeg is enslaved to her stomach and a long snooze. (kind of like some of us) The pleasure she gives me reminds me of how God, in His goodness, created this earth and all things in it for our good and enjoyment. The earth is filled with gifts from God!! I suppose that is part of the reason we like to keep pets.

Well, my dog got herself into trouble a few days ago. As a special treat, I put her to bed with a beef shank bone that was dripping with marrow and doggie goodness. When I came down the next morning to let her out (she sleeps in her crate in the basement, her own little ‘cave’), she was unusually agitated! I found that she had somehow forced her lower jaw through the center of the bone and had gotten it lodged behind her canine teeth! Her tongue was trapped under it and, like a ring too tight on a finger, she couldn’t pry the bone off her jaw.

I called an Emergency Vet clinic and they told me to come right away. $164, paid up front, for a consultation….oookay, what choice did I have? I suppose, in an effort to give me my consultation money’s worth, after looking at the dog, I was presented with a long list of necessary procedures: bloodwork, anesthesia, something about a bone saw, tissue damage, infection, medication….. words swirling in my clouded mind that I could barely comprehend! The tech finally took a breath and announced the estimated cost to be “about $2,000”. I came to, looked bug-eyed at the poor tech the cowardly vets had sent in and all I could say was “two THOUSAND dollars?? Two THOUSAND???”

I know it sounds humorous the way I am telling it, but I was in disbelief!! Having just shepherded my mother, a human being, through various medical procedures, I couldn’t believe this poor girl was looking at me with a straight face telling me that it was going to cost $2,000 to get a bone out of an animal’s mouth! 

I just flat out told her that I couldn’t pay that. I signed a form declining treatment.

It wasn’t that I didn’t have the money. It was my conviction as to how the money that the Lord has blessed me with should be used to honor Him. A few weeks ago, Brother Julio gave testimony about his visit to India. The reminder of the world that God so loves; people that Jesus died for, going without enough food, clean water, and decent medical care flashed into my mind. My own conviction to love my neighbor would not allow me to spend such an amount on a dog’s foolishness, not to mention our man-made machine of medical care for animals that is better than what most countries have for their own citizens!

I did not make that decision lightly, I was really scared! In my mind I thought that I was possibly looking at euthanizing her for a lack of willingness to direct my resources there. Then, I remembered; God is my resource, He supplies all my needs. Would He supply Nutmeg’s need? I didn’t know, but I didn’t back down from my conviction.

The tech went back to see if something could be negotiated with the vets. Meanwhile, I cried out to the Lord, imploring Him for wisdom, for strength, for help! Trusting Him to make my path straight! She came in about 15 minutes later with a much shorter list of procedures, and they agreed to charge even less if the dog didn’t need any medication. Thank you Lord!! I agreed, signed a new form, made ominous by including a “Do not resuscitate” order! (Trust in the Lord, Celeste)

Nutmeg greeted me about a half hour later in the waiting room, tail wagging and bone free!

It turned out that she needed no medicine. Her visit went from $2164 to $364. (and they trimmed her nails for no charge! A $50 ‘bone-us’)

My takeaway? I believe God blessed me as I stood by my conviction and trusted Him. If I had leaned on my own understanding, I’d have $2000 less to be multiplied for the Lord’s work. It was a minor test compared to many, but I rejoice in the faithfulness and the goodness of the Lord! 

God gives us good gifts, never let those gifts become more important than pleasing the Gift-giver!

Share a time you’ve remained firm in your convictions with me!

With love, your sister, Celeste