What My Dog’s Surgery Taught Me About God!

1 Corinthians 7:17 (MSG) ~~ And don’t be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God’s place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life. Don’t think I’m being harder on you than on the others. I give this same counsel in all the churches.

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by Carley Cooper

My dog had surgery this week, and it helped me re-learn an important message about faith. 

I have a shih-tzu dog named Maggie.  She will have her first birthday on April 6th.  I already have a special gift bought for the occasion.  She is my baby. 

Maggie went to the Ontario SPCA here in Barrie this week to be spayed and to have a microchip inserted in the scruff of her neck.  (Side note: I went there because they have a low-cost spay/neuter program, that costs much less than going to my regular vet to have the surgery done – check it out with your local SPCA). 

Panic Set In

I was being a responsible pet-parent I thought.  Later it occurred to me just what I had done.  I left her with complete strangers… to allow them to do major surgery on her no less!  Not only that but I paid them to do it!  I trusted they would take care of her, that they would not hurt her, and that they knew what they were doing. 

“Am I crazy or something?”, was my initial thought.  What if she didn’t come out OK?  What if they did something to hurt her (accidentally or on purpose).  What if she didn’t survive the surgery?  

God Defines Your Life

Well, Maggie survived the surgery.  And, amazingly enough, so did I!  She’s stuck wearing this cone shaped collar around her head for the next seven to ten days, which I’m not sure is harder on her or me.  But we will both survive it, I’m sure. 

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I have no reason not to trust these wonderful people at the SPCA.  I know, realistically, that they would never intentionally hurt my Maggie any more than I would.  It hit me later that so often I don’t trust God as much as I trust some people.  Sometimes, I don't have enough faith in God to take care of me and my needs.  Why is that?

I look to other people every day for so many things.  I take medications daily for Bipolar Disorder.  I never question if they’re truly OK for me or not.  I trust my parents to drive me places I need to go.  I trust my church family to support me through hard times, and help me on my spiritual walk toward God.  I trust our pastors to preach biblically-sound messages.  I trust other people to grow, prepare, and package the food I eat every day.  The list can go on and on with the things that I have to depend on other people to do for me to make my life better.  Yet, there are things that I want to trust God for, but so often I wonder if it’s really in His plan for me.  What if I never get married again?  Should I leave it in His hands or not?  Maybe I should just go out and find a man on my own.  Why do I have to go through this when others don’t?

I think about this a lot.  Then, the other day, I saw this bible verse.  1 Corinthians 7:17 (MSG) ~~ And don’t be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God’s place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life. Don’t think I’m being harder on you than on the others. I give this same counsel in all the churches. 

God is in Control

The truth is, God tries all the time to make sure I know this.  At least a few times per week, I see this message somewhere; “Don’t worry.  I’m saving you for someone special.”  Just the same way that I take care of Maggie because I love her, God will take care of me because He loves me.  If Maggie could talk, would she have chosen to go ahead with the surgery?  Probably not.  I chose for her, because it’s what’s best for her.  She will have a healthier life because of it.  Plus, if she gets lost, the microchip will help me find her again.  I am where I am at this moment in time because God wants me to be here.  Whatever my future holds depends on it.  Everything that happens in my life is under God’s control.  He has only my best interests at heart.

Joel Osteen said “You may not be where you want to be, but you can look back and thank God you’re not where you used to be.”

Can I trust God with my future, and what’s best for me?  Absolutely! 

I saw this photo on Facebook the other day.  I think it’s something we would all do well to keep in mind.  

Let’s Pray

Dear God ~~ Wonderful, loving, ever-faithful Father so often I want to go off on my own and take control of my own life.  Please forgive me for the lack of faith.  Thank You for never giving up on me and the lesson’s You need me to learn.  Help me to always remember that You are in control always, and that You only have my best interests at heart.  I know whatever my future holds, will contain blessings beyond anything my imagination can come up with.  Thank You for those blessings.  I pray in Jesus name, AMEN

Now It’s Your Turn

Thoughts?  Questions?  Want to share your story?  Ask for prayer? Please share in the comments section.

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