Bouncy-Pouncy Lexi

My Lexi is the happiest dog I have ever known. She loves being inside, loves being outside, loves being in her crate, and just seems to thoroughly enjoy life wherever she is at any given moment. There is never a time I look at her when her face doesn't shout "I'm super excited to be right here right now!" In a few weeks, she will be 9 years old, but she still races to my side and pounces on me like she did as a puppy. She's alert and watchful, constantly desires attention, and cannot contain her excitement when I whisper her name.

People say dogs often take on the characteristics and personality of their owners, but Lexi is a far better dog than I am a human. I watch her sometimes, and I can't help but think I should be more like her. She isn't moody. Her enthusiasm for life doesn't change because it's too hot outside or because her sleep was interrupted last night. She doesn't get pouty or give me the silent treatment when she doesn't get her way and never seems to notice when I've failed to give her attention for any period of time. She forgives and forgets before a moment has lapsed, and she showers me with love every chance she gets.

Although she is super-obedient and will do exactly what I ask, try as I may in the nine years of her life, I have not broken her spirit, so she bounces and pounces. The moment she sees me enter the room or the yard, she darts toward me, and as she approaches I shout, "Lexi, sit! Lexi, sit! Sit! Sit!" Running full speed, she comes to a screeching halt and sits obediently at my feet. She sits with her tail vigorously wagging and her face exceedingly smiling, waiting for me to greet her with affection. So I reach down to give her what she desires, but the moment I remove my hand, she pounces on me. Sometimes I can tell she tries not to, but she just cannot contain her excitement and enthusiasm.

I am confident if I worked with her like I should, I could break her of this habit. My husband continually tells me how I can stop her pouncing, but truthfully, I love the bouncy-pouncy Lexi. I love her excitement and enthusiasm, her zeal for life. I love the lessons God teaches me through His creation, even in the bouncy-pouncy and the muddy-paw stains on my favorite shirts. I love how she reminds me what unconditional love is supposed to look like, how she teaches me I too should be content in all situations, and how her celebration of me encourages me to celebrate others. 

The next time you see me, you may not walk away with a muddy-paw stained T-shirt, but I hope as we part our ways, you will know you are loved as much as my Lexi loves me. 

My Hero

I remember this day, sitting across the table from him. It wasn't often dad was captured with messy hair, not clean shaven, and wearing his undershirt, but it's one of my favorite pictures of him. He had just loaded his new camera with a roll of film, and I asked him if I could hold it. Of course, without hesitation, he handed it to me. And I started clicking like it was a digital camera with endless memory. He was laughing and telling me, "That's enough now," as I kept clicking. I wish the pictures caught his laughter too. And his voice, I wish it caught his serious-but-not-so-serious tone. Most of all, I wish the photos contained his wisdom, especially during these seasons of my life when I desperately long for his heroism.

Yesterday, as I was searching for graduation cards, I somehow crossed into the Father's Day section, and I thought of how I took my dad for granted, how I didn't always let him know how much I appreciated his loving, generous spirit, how I neglected to tell him I appreciated how he and Mom were always my biggest cheerleaders, how grateful I was to know that no matter what mistakes I made in life, I could be confident he and Mom would always be there to offer love and support, to dust off the seat of my pants, and to help me find my way again. 

I learned so much about my Heavenly Father through my earthly one. As much as I miss Dad, I know Papa God loves me even more than Daddy ever could. So in missing him, I'm reminded that the One who loves me even more is ready, willing, and waiting to be the Hero I need Him to be.