Thunderstorms

We were soundly sleeping when I felt a very familiar touch. It wasn’t my husband but my dog spunky scratching at the side of the bed! This can only mean one thing, thunder! If I am too slow to respond, she jumps up on the bed, in between my husband and I. This makes for a fun night! It has been said that certain breeds are more sensitive to thunder than others. ow Spunky is an Australian shepherd, Chow mix and she is definitely afraid.

Dr. Dodman, BVMS has suggested that it is possible that the dog’s coat could actually have static electricity during a storm.  This would explain the panic and desperation that we see in our dog whenever there is thunder.  Imagine if your hair was shocking you each time it thundered!

There are many suggestions to calming dogs which have this type of response to thunderstorms.

1. Use an anti-static dryer sheet on their fur

2. Spray them with a little water so their coat is damp

3. Use a vet approved calming drug

4. Give them a crate that is away from the noise

5. Change their negative association (give them a treat)

6. Use a compression vest (thundershirt).

We have tried the calming pills and they have some effect. Last night however, we were out of pills. I decided that since I didn’t have compression vest, I would just try and wrap my arms around her and hug her close throughout the storm. (My husband didn’t like it too much!) Although this wasn’t perfect it did help. She seemed to feel more secure knowing that she wasn’t alone, that I was close, that she was safe.

When I am afraid, I also try to do whatever I can, to feel secure.

We can learn several lessons from Spunky.

1. Go to the source of Comfort

2. Be persistent

3. Rest in His arms

4. Stay there throughout the storm

5. Repeat this behavior during all storms

The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth,

Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,

 and to those who have no might He increases strength.

 ...those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles, 

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

 Isaiah 40:28-31

Father, thank you for teaching me trust lessons through Spunky. You are trustworthy! When I am afraid I will trust in you! 

Can you Handle the Truth?

"I’m not gonna look!, I’m not gonna even step on that scale!  I know that I have gained weight, why do I want to feel judged? I am just going to avoid it until I am ready!"

Ever been here?

My husband has been out of town, and with no one at home, my eating and sleeping schedule has been less than normal. Usually, I have meals at the same time and my sleeping patterns are consistent. Not this week!

• I went to bed later, got up later!
• Ate a bowl of ice cream for dinner or just had tortilla chips!
• Snacked on peanut butter m&m’s, pretzels and a variety of other not so good for you morsels.

In the midst of all of this I saw the scale.  Most of the time I hop on to check my weight, make sure that things are on the right track and adjust my eating as necessary.  You might say that I have an honest relationship with it.

Not this week! The scale represented the truth! I did NOT want to know how things were! I did not want to see that I had gained 5 pounds!  Each time I walked by I would mumble, Don’t look at me that way!”

Recently I read an article on Youbeauty.com “Could You Live Without Looking at Yourself? One Woman Swears Off Mirrors for a Year.”  Engeln-Maddox. an engaged woman was not going to look at herself in the mirror until her wedding day!  She was trying to see if it would improve her self confidence and improve her self esteem.  It will be interesting to see how this turns out!

Avoiding the mirror and the scale seem like the same thing to me. They both avoid the truth.

Sometimes we avoid things;

To make us feel better

Because we are afraid of the truth

Because it causes pain

Because we know that they will force us to change

Because it is easier

This morning, I got on the scale. “Time to face reality, I said as I waited for the scale to shout the ugly truth!”  I stood there shocked and amazed. I got off and then I got right back on! How could this be?

The weight, that I was so afraid of knowing, was less than when I had last weighed myself!

The truth will set you free! He will free you from;

Worry

Anxiety

Fear

Poor Self image

Anger

Resentment

Pain

Shame

The unknown

Whatever you have been avoiding, know that the Truth takes away the power of the lie!

Don’t be enslaved by the lie! You can be set free!

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

Father, thank you for sending  the truth to us! Thank you for the freedom that comes from knowing and being known by Jesus! Thank you for encouraging me to get on the scale, face the fear and be set free!