Jason Clark, the author of *Prone to Love*, says that God speaks to us in the language of our understanding. For myself, that language is best communicated through animals and birds. For instance, sparrows remind me to let go of worry, while my experiences as a dog mom teach me valuable lessons about unconditional and sacrificial love.
As I mentioned in my last article, I’m currently dealing with the challenges of watching my beloved senior dog, Molly, adjust to her blindness. While Molly shows incredible resilience and determination as she rediscovers her surroundings, I find myself struggling with the emotional weight of the situation. The other dogs are supportive, but I can’t help but hover closely as she learns to navigate her world. Every time she bumps into something, my heart drops, and I instinctively follow her around the backyard to ensure she can easily find her way back to the pet door to the safety of the home. I have officially become a “hover mother.”
There are moments when I can’t help but scoop her up, snuggle her close, and carry her, which she and I both enjoy immensely. However, I hear my Heavenly Father’s gentle reminder that constantly carrying her fosters too much dependency. If I want her to overcome, I must encourage her to trust in herself as much as she trusts me. He warns that failing to do so might truly disable her. I see the truth in this; when she knows I’m there, she often stops, sits, and waits for me to pick her up. I sense Him showing me that the quick fix of the cuddle and carry could prove to be crippling for her.
So, as ridiculous as it sounds, I’ve become stealthy in my hovering. I follow her far enough away where she can’t feel me, but close enough to protect her. This is painful for me because I don’t want her to feel scared or abandoned. As I reflect on these thoughts, I begin to understand why Heavenly Father often feels absent during our struggles.
I remember being a young believer and how I felt His presence during my battles. I now understand that He was teaching me to walk with Him. However, over the years, there have been times when I felt alone in the darkness and had to learn to trust that He lives inside me, regardless of what my feelings might say. During the times I felt comforted, He was teaching me to walk. Now that I’m learning that He resides in me, no matter how I feel, He is teaching me to fly.
I talk to people every day who feel abandoned by God. They share how they cry out to Him in their darkness, only to feel that He is not there, isn’t listening, or, worst of all, doesn’t care. I understand; I have been there many times myself. But I can assure you of this: He has not abandoned you any more than I have abandoned Molly. Trust in that truth rather than your feelings and learn to soar!
One response
This tugs at my heart. I experienced this with my children as they were growing up in every stage of their life. And there was a time, because of emotional and mental illness that I couldn’t ever be there with my kids. My heart aches still because of those times. They are grown now with their own kids. And, praise the Lord, I watch them raise their kids in the way you raised your dog… giving them space, protecting them and cuddling them in a nonsmothering way. The grandkids are loving and love to cuddle but then they separate and go off to play. I’m so thankful my kids have the wisdom to do this..