Dogs are “Sparrows” too
My great aunt used to regularly say to us: “God works in wondrous ways, His marvels to
perform.” At my age at the time, I had
no idea what that meant. Years later, in
a popular movie, I saw a young woman sit at the piano and sing in a low, soulful
voice: “I sing because I’m happy; I sing
because I’m free; His eye is on the sparrow …. And I know He watches me.” There are times when I am not 100% certain
that His eye is on the “sparrows” of life.
I have my moments of doubt and discouragement just like everyone
else.
But I will say that as I have walked this life for over half
a century by now, I am aware that when I think God is somehow asleep at the
wheel, He is about to perform something else.
He doesn’t meet needs and address issues the way I would. That’s because our job titles are distinctly
different, a universe apart. He sees the
bigger picture. When I lost a puppy in a
litter last year, I wondered for more than a second why this little “sparrow”
was not miraculously saved. Today, when
I told a new friend the story of Losing Connery, she asked me one
question: “Did the mother dog ignore
him?” I said to her, yes, every time I
put the pup to momma to feed, she looked away.
The pup did not latch on and nurse.
I even tried hand feeding, to no avail.
I felt like I was shoveling sand …. Or something worse … against the
tide. My friend affirmed what I
suspected: “Momma dogs turn away when
something is wrong with the puppy.”
Somehow that makes me feel better.
Not a lot better, but enough better.
I just need to know that it wasn’t my fault that he didn’t thrive.
A few months ago, I re-homed my friend’s cat for her. I took a re-homing fee from the new owner as
insurance that if the deal went south, I’d have at least some resources to help
me care for the cat myself until Plan B unfolded. No need.
Plan A worked great. I took the
re-homing fee and made a donation to a local shelter. As I reflected on their business, I wondered
if I could help them with their donor-based fundraising plan so I typed a few
ideas out. I planned to eventually drop
by the shelter and offer my suggestions to them when I had time. Two months passed.
Meanwhile, I had a few extra cans of cat food that were in
my cabinet. Today, on a whim, I decided
to drive those to the shelter and see if I could talk to someone about
fundraising. I had forgotten about the
other things I needed to re-purpose. But
the Supervisor of “sparrows” did not.
The young shelter manager was so gracious and invited me into
her office to chat. I gave her my piece
of paper with my humble ideas (fundraising techniques I wish I knew when I was
managing a non-profit 30 years ago). When
we were just about wrapping-up our time together, her phone rang. A litter of orphaned puppies were on their
way in for care. The lightbulb in my
brain snapped on. I thought I had been
there for one reason. In fact, I was led
there for a DIFFERENT REASON, unbeknown to me.
I asked her: Do you have
handfeeding formula for puppies, or do you need some? She checked her cupboard, and she had only
kitten formula. I told her I would be
back. Within the hour I was able to
deliver the puppy formula and Hi calorie protein gel for pups (I call it
miracle gel, because it perks them up if they are logy. After the last litter of puppies at my house,
it became apparent that our next litter would be no sooner than three years
away. That fact had left me with a full
can and a 1/3 of puppy formula which would expire before I needed to use
it. I was waiting to see where it could
be put to good use. Now I know.
The “perk” for me was as simple as being able to hold one of
the puppies of this litter of orphans.
She trembled, a three-week-old beautiful girl puppy with no Momma dog to
feed her. I kissed the top of her
tawny-colored head. She will not go hungry,
nor will her siblings. The kind people
at the shelter will do their best and it will all work out.
And I thought I was just bringing cans of cat food and
fundraising ideas. Today’s Lesson in Trust: I guess I will leave the management of sparrows
and puppies to bigger Hands. I’m just so
glad I got to be there.
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