Got What I Needed

When John and I married, we waited a few years before sending our request to the stork. And waited. But alas, there was no sign of the phantom bird. After a few more years we couldn't wait any longer. We decided to adopt the first available baby.

January 7, 1996 we adopted a tiny helpless 7 week-old baby. But, I was baffled at what God was trying to tell us by sending this baby. She was a dog! Oh, I don't mean that she was ugly - she really was a dog - a Miniature Poodle! Not a Great Dane, a German shepherd, a Golden Retriever, a Boxer - no- a Poodle! Just what was God thinking!

Slowly our focus shifted from us to someone else - okay, something else. We learned many new things such as; how to read body language - the dog's as well as each others'; we learned when a hug is needed; a growl means space is needed, especially when "mommy" growls; sharing is a good thing - the couch, the arm-chair, sharing food but not from the same dish; we show great excitement when someone comes to the door and whimper when they leave; when "daddy" returns home from work he is smothered with kisses - well...mostly by the dog; playing tag and hid n' seek are fun ways of exercising; and it's nice to spend some quite time together watching a movie.

There are many things we will never experience as real parents, such as ; parent-teacher interviews; art work on the fridge door, sleepovers; school graduations; weddings and grandchildren. But none-the-less, it has been a joy and a learning experience to look after one of God's precious creatures.

God doesn't answer prayer like a genie in a lamp. He doesn't pop up and answer when we rub the Bible and say a quick prayer. He may not answer the way we expect Him or within our time schedule but He always does answer. God gives us exactly what we need, in the amount that we can handle, with usually a lesson to learn because He cares enough to see us grow.

Psalm 25:4