Trading My Sorrows

The long months of summer are upon us, and I pray that this entire season can be rich in both reflection and growth for you. I’d like to introduce you to a special friend of mine today, who has been an absolute joy in our lives for the past two years. His name is Woodrow—not as in Wilson, but as in Captain Call from Larry McMurtry’s fantastic Texan saga.

Just about this time two years ago, my husband and I were walking through a particularly dark and confusing season of life. One day, as Eli was bringing in a load of things from the car, he set his armful down and turned back to get some more, when he saw that a possum had followed him into the house! If you have never seen a possum up close, you might not realize what a strange looking creature they are, especially the tail, which can certainly send shivers up your spine.

Upon further inspection, it was not at all a possum; rather it was a poor, elderly dog who was certainly only days, if not hours, away from crossing death's door. We wish we could know his entire saga, but when our chapter of his story picks up, he had obviously been on the streets for some extended time. All of his hair had fallen out, he was severely malnourished and dehydrated, and terribly sunburned. And my husband, who has the most tender heart, scooped him up and promptly announced to him that he had found a new home, and began to nurse the little guy back to health.

Joy comes every morning to this little guy!

No one would ever mistake Woodrow for a possum now! We missed an opportunity to name him Sampson, since his hair grows so profusely now that he has to get a haircut at least once a month or else he will look like a giant puffball. His hair has grown back and then some, and we have all loved loving each other through this particular season of life. I think God is so incredibly generous and good to send such a gift!

Each and every morning this little guy gives us such a great life lesson. Much to the chagrin of every other dog that we’ve ever owned, I'm sure, this fellow is allowed to sleep on our bed with us. He only weighs 9 pounds, so he doesn’t take up much room, and he is just so grateful for the room and board that we pretty much let him do whatever he wants.

Every day when Woodrow wakes up, it is the cutest thing you’ve ever seen. He lifts up his head and looks around, as if to say, "where am I?" Then just a few seconds later, he does a big stretch and stands up, which is no easy feat when you’re somewhere around 14 years old and have had a rough go. The next thing he does is positively pounce over to us with what looks like a great big smile on his face! I feel like if he was able to talk, he would say, "Good morning, good morning! It's such a great day to be alive!" He is so joyful and sweet every single morning, and it is the cutest way to be woken up. He snuggles and hugs and smiles, and it's just about impossible to wake up grumpy with Woodrow's joy that comes every morning.

What a lesson for all of us! We can all relate to his story, as we’ve all been through some tough days, seasons, even years, and the crushing weight of pain and sadness in this broken world so often threatens to overwhelm us. As we have been reminded recently again here in Texas, terrible disasters just happen, sweeping away the sweetest and most innocent in our society, and we all feel so helpless to do anything about it.

But this little dog that God sent to us has taught me so many lessons and reminded me so many truths about life in this tough world...

-He has reminded me of the gift and blessing that resilience is. Yes, life can be so hard sometimes. Terrible things happen: people hurt us, intentionally or unintentionally; illness and disaster strike; things and people that you love dearly and deeply are lost to you. But in all of that, the miracle of joy cannot be taken away. It endures through millennia of brokenness, and is one of the strongest entities in existence. It is part of God's character, and a gift He offers freely to any of us who will choose to receive it. And this great gift--His own joy—is our strength. Life will knock us down again and again, but in God's strength (joy!) we can get back up again! 

-He has taught me that a little bit of love goes such a long way. This poor pup was in such a bad way when God let our lives intersect. I cannot even imagine what he'd been through in the preceding days and weeks. He doesn't see or hear very well, and I'm sure being lost or abandoned was so frightening. I think it isn't too much of a stretch to say that this could have done him in, but he didn't stay there. He didn't become snappy or angry or despondent, as he easily could have. Rather, he has absolutely thrived under some tender loving care, and it has been so sweet to watch. It reminds me every day that so many people all around us need a little TLC, too, and we all can all be a part of helping a broken and abandoned life be restored to health. 

-He has reminded me that we are so much better together than we are apart.  I am not sure who needed whom more that day Woodrow came to our house, but I am sure that we have all loved each other back to health. There is nothing like a loving community to bring health and hope and healing! We can encourage each other and lift each other up when we’re down and out, and remind one another of the goodness and faithfulness of God, no matter what the circumstances say. Friendship and community is such a gift from God of which we too often forget to avail ourselves. Fellowship together with other believers and friends was never meant to be a gathering where we look at the back of each others' heads for an hour or so once each week: it can be life-giving, health-restoring communion in which we look each other in the eyes and share the hope and love of God with one another, through laughter and through tears.

-He has reminded me that life is good, even though so much in this world is broken. The perfect timing of our life intersection with Woodrow was a ray of hope in a dark time. Yes, this world is broken, but even more emphatically yes, God is renewing and restoring all things—just imagine what it will look like when He is finished with that restoration project! Now we only have glimpses of the incredible goodness in store for such a restored place, but it’s going to be worth the wait. I encourage you to look each day for the bright glimpses of hope and promise that the Lord weaves into your own story. Do not let the enemy steal your faith, hope, and love through averse circumstances; rather, watch with expectancy for God's goodness to shine through even in the darkest times. 



I don’t know how much longer we’re going to have our sweet little gift in our lives, as he is growing older each day. But I do know that every moment that we have had with him is a treasure, and a gift from a good Father.

One of the most wonderful names for God in the Old Testament is El Roi, the God Who Sees. You can be sure today that He knows just where you are and just what you’re going through. He is right there beside you, grieving with you and loving you, working to turn even the most awful things in life for your good and His glory. Watch and see what only He can do.

I find that many days these past months I have had a particular (old) worship chorus in my heart and mind, and I just realized the other day that it’s probably because of Woodrow’s joyous morning routine. I will leave this with you, and pray that you are encouraged today...

I'm trading my sorrows, I'm trading my shame,
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord. 

I'm trading my sickness, I'm trading my pain, 
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord. 

We are pressed, but not crushed,
persecuted, not abandoned,
struck down, but not destroyed.
We are blessed beyond the curse for His promises endure,
and His joy is going to be our strength.

Though the sorrow may last for the night,
His joy comes in the morning!

The recent flooding in Texas has been a disaster for so many—if you would like to be a part of relief efforts, may I encourage you to give to an organization which has proven itself trustworthy to bring help and hope in such times...

Convoy of Hope