A Tale of Two Trilogies

They say, “Things happen in threes.”

I don’t put stock in much of what “they” say, since no one can identify who “they” are.

But the “threes” idea is accurate for me right now. Two weeks ago, I called in a refill for my ADD meds. No big deal, right? I’ve been taking them for a year. Except I changed insurance companies. A dozen phone calls, three trips to the doctor, five trips to the pharmacy and I still have no ADD meds.

In the midst of this craziness, my beloved dog had surgery. I am grateful it wasn’t life-threatening. I am grateful for the tremendous care she received. I am grateful that, once she is fully healed, she will run better than she has in years.

For the past week, however, she and I have been navigating the waters of a terrier who is not accustomed to constant oversight, not being able to jump or run, not being allowed to roam freely in the yard or chase birds.

Oh and her mama hasn’t had ADD meds for almost two weeks.

Finally, I am dealing with a difficult and painful personal issue. Crying was not on my agenda this week.

Not the worst tragedies, but not fun. Could be an excuse to be grumpy and impatience and intolerant. 
Have you had days like that?

I am not, by nature, a grumpy person. Nastiness, in my opinion, is almost always unnecessary. No one else needs to be affected by my problems.

Last night I prayed for guidance and strength.

Today’s devotional reading contained one of my favorite Bible verses:

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jer 29:11)

Tori and I stepped outside this morning, neither of us happy about her needing to be on a leash…and we found just a bit of fresh snow. She loves to rub her face in the snow.

Notice the time stamp. 11:11. Beautiful face. Perfect timing.

After lunch, I turned on my Worship playlist. These lyrics were part of the first song:

Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always

It is now 10:09 PM and none of my of my challenges have changed. But I am grateful for what came in threes today – a good word, an enjoyable moment, an inspiring song. I am grateful that the Creator of the entire universe cares so much for me. I am grateful my eyes were open and my spirit was in a receiving mode.

I could have been grumpy and missed it all.

I am going to put my head down and focus on those things, and count on God providing more tomorrow....for you and me!

Thanks for reading.

BP J

Beth Painter is, among many other things, a writer and motivational speaker. You can follow her on Facebook on the “Think Big focus small” page.

Beth is available to speak to your group about how to make your dreams and desires come to life! 

Alizé and how everything is working out...

Everything is always working out.

Those are words we sometimes do not appreciate, aren’t they?

Romans 8:28 is often one of the Bible verses we learn as a child in Sunday School.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.

Understandably, those words are difficult to absorb if we are grieving or ill or in financial distress.  

I have learned – at long last and in spite of much stubborn resistance on my part – the truth of those words.

Everything is always working out.

For those who doubt, Alizé has a great story to tell.

A little back story about Alizé. My cousin Kelly’s son, Christopher, raised Alizé from a puppy. He bred her and in June, 2004, she had pups. On July 1, Christopher took one of the pups to see an interested buyer. On the way home, his truck left the road and hit a tree. He was 19.

Alizé, a pit bull/boxer mix is now 14. She is a grand old lady, and a reminder of how much Chris loves animals…and how much we love him and miss his presence.

On Christmas day, Alizé slipped her collar and took a walk that turned into quite a ride.

But the story really starts in early December when Kelly called to ask if I would help her 80 year old mother drive from Pennsylvania to Pittsboro, NC, where Kelly lives. We would make the drive in mid-January.

Later that day, however, my dog went from limping on her right rear leg to not putting weight on it at all. The diagnosis was a torn ACL, which meant severely limited activity for 6-8 weeks. That was a wrench in the plans.

A few days later, Kelly’s sister, Kristin, was laid off. While that isn’t great news, it solved the problem of my not being able to accompany me aunt on the drive.

Everything is always working out.

But the story gets better…

Alizé has made friends with a neighbor several doors away. The man has a bed on his porch for her and makes her eggs when she comes to visit, which is great since she has developed a disorder which causes a protein deficiency.

This disorder has also caused her to lose weight, and subsequently slip her collar more readily.

No one knows if she stopped at her friend’s house on Christmas, but instead of returning home, she walked to the end of Kelly’s road then turned onto Jones Ferry Road, which is much busier.

As the afternoon wore on, Kelly became worried because Alizé hadn’t returned. She drove up and down Jones Ferry. No sign of Alizé. She and her husband searched the woods behind their home, calling her name loudly. Nothing. They printed off signs with her picture, hung them on utility poles, posted one at the convenience store nearby and everywhere they could imagine Alizé might be. There was a report that someone had seen a similar dog being picked up by a driver on Jones Ferry. Kelly called the local animal shelter to report Alizé missing.

Three days went by with no word. Three days of Alizé being without her meds and the special food she needs to combat the protein deficiency. We all hoped and prayed.

But everything is always working out.

On day four,December 29, Kelly received a phone call. A woman named Maqui had been visiting her brother and his family in a development off Jones Ferry Road, almost directly across from Kelly’s road. Maqui saw Alizé walking along the road and picked her up to prevent her from being hurt. Because Alizé had slipped her collar, Maqui had no idea she was close to home. Maqui’s brother was unable to care for Alizé, and Maqui was unwilling to leave her at a shelter closed for the holiday weekend, so she took Alizé home with her.

Great lady, right? That isn’t the half of it. 

After returning home, Maqui took Alizé to her local vet, had her examined and microchipped, and purchased medication and special food for her. Then she called the Chatham County shelter to see if there had been a report of a dog like Alizé missing. The shelter gave Maqui Kelly’s number.

Imagine Kelly’s relief when she heard Alizé was safe!!

Maqui said they would have to make arrangements to meet because she lives seven hours from Pittsboro.

Imagine Kelly’s amazement when she found out those seven hours took Maqui to Pittsburgh – an hour away from both Kelly’s mom and Kristin! By the evening of the 29^th, Alizé was sleeping in Kristin’s house, still wearing the sweater Maqui bought her.

Everything is always working out.

Some people doubt that God has the time or inclination to care about the details of our days and our lives.

Many times situations arise which make it hard to be certain that everything always works out.

But think about this story. Think about how different it could have been.

Anyone could have picked up Alizé. Or no one.

Instead, she was on Jones Ferry Road at the perfect time to be picked up by a wonderful woman willing to ride seven hours with her.  A woman who was also willing to pay for an examination and special food and meds. Are you surprised to know it is the same food Kelly’s vet prescribed??

Maqui didn’t have to do that, and once she had, she sure didn’t have to call the shelter. She could have kept Alizé forever.

The 500 miles Maqui drove with Alizé could have taken them to Hoboken, NJ or St Augustine, FL or Nashville, TN or Louisville, KY. 

Instead, it took them an hour from Kelly’s mom and sister.

And remember - they had already planned to drive to Kelly’s in two weeks.

Everything is always working out.

I recently heard “coincidence” defined as “cooperating incidences.”  That resonated with me since I stopped believing in chance or coincidence or accidents long ago.

“Everything is always working out for me” has become a mantra of mine. Sometimes, it is spoken through gritted teeth, or through brains cells gritted by frustration or doubt. Sometimes, it is spoken through tears.

Sometimes, I want to see HOW it is working out RIGHT NOW. Okay, mostly I always want that.

As we head into a new year, I am determined to live more often as if everything is working out for me. To live it so loudly that other people say, “Gee, everything always works out for Beth!”

If I get off track, Alizé will help me remember.

Maybe she can help you remember too…

Blessings to you.

BP

Beth Painter is, among many other things, a writer and motivational speaker. You can follow her on Facebook on the “Think Big focus small” page.

Beth is available to speak to your group about how to make your dreams and desires come to life!