carbonated joy

This last Saturday, we welcomed a fuzzy new family member.

She is a beautiful little beagle.

She is 3 or 4 years old, we aren’t sure.

She is a rescue beagle. She was rescued from a pound in Virginia, where she was about to be killed.

She arrived with an old name. But, after getting to know her, we REnamed her, Maggie.

She just looks like a Maggie.

Maggie Lang.

She is, quite possibly, the sweetest, most affectionate dog I’ve ever been around.

She is the canine embodiment of the word “cuddle”.

She loves to snuggle, to really press in and nuzzle face to face. It is a beautiful, healing thing.

She’s not perfect, we didn’t expect her to be. It took her about 42 seconds for her to leave a mess on our carpet. We didn’t love her any less.

She doesn’t do any special tricks, we don’t care. We were just looking for someone to love and she found us.

She is learning to trust us. There are certain behaviors that hint at her past, she is a little skittish, timid. It’s going to take some time. That’s okay, we have time.

We had love to give and she showed up. It’s a beautiful, healing thing.

I’m amazed at what a snuggler she is, but I have a theory…

I think she fully realizes the situation that she was saved from.

Sometimes when you are saved from death, the only right reaction is to snuggle. That is both the only and the greatest thing that she can offer us.

She showed up with paperwork telling us who she was, and a tagged collar that read “RESCUED”.

We gave her a home and a new name. It’s a beautiful, healing thing.

As I was thinking about this, it dawned on me that my situation is the same as hers!

I’m a rescue person.

Jesus rescued me from death.

I’m a rescued person.

He has given me a home and a new name.

I’m learning to trust my Heavenly Father. Some days, I get it right. Some days, I’m a little skittish.

I’m not perfect, I still make huge messes. He doesn’t love me any less.

If I realize the situation that I was saved from, I also realize that my only reaction is to snuggle with my Savior.

It’s not about doing the right tricks perfectly.

It is not about performance, but presence.

The goal is to really press in and nuzzle face to face with God. It is a beautiful, healing thing

I want to simply snuggle with my good, loving, heavenly Daddy.

That is both the only and the greatest thing that I can offer Him.

I’m a rescued person. It is a beautiful, healing thing

“You see, you have not received a spirit that returns you to slavery, so you have nothing to fear. The Spirit you have received adopts you and welcomes you into God’s own family. That’s why we call out to Him, “Abba! Father!” as we would address a loving daddy.” Romans 8:15 (@TheVoiceBible)