Before you retire you hear all kinds of comments about how all the stress you are under will no longer be a part of your everyday life. That is true to a certain point. What they all leave out is that the stress you may experience at work is gone, but there is always something that seems to cause a person to worry and feel under a different type of stress. As we get older it seems that some of the stress is coming from losing those who are close to you - family and friends. Some of us may be stressing out because it is an election year; the problems on Wall Street; and most of us feel the stress that our loved ones are under. Yes, we are to turn it all over to God. Sometimes it is easier said than done - sometimes what we want to happen or not happen isn't in God's plan for us.
Reading through one of my many sites which has a Bible verse for the day, I came across the following verse:
“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.”- Proverbs 19:20-21
It is true - God's purpose will prevail!
So to help alleviate some of the stress we may feel which stems from things we have no control over, Bill and I not only read God's word, but we also turn to an unlikely source! It comes from our "babee"! He is twelve years old; has crooked teeth; is almost completely blind; and suffers from arthritis in almost every joint in his little body! He is our lovable Boston Terrier, Toby. There were many days when we would come home from a very stressful day at school that he would greet us as if we were the most important people on this earth. In a way I guess we were since we were the ones who would feed him and let him in and out a dozen times a day! But do you know what? He loves us unconditionally even if we did get home late, or were gone from him for a few days. The love he showers on us; the trust he displays; and the faith he shows is what we should be doing towards our Heavenly Father!
We use to come in from work; take Toby out back and play "keep-a-way" with a "doggie Frisbee." We could feel the stress leave our bodies - I think we lost it from running after Toby and the laughter from his antics of trying to keep us from getting the Frisbee! Laughter is a good means of relief - sometimes it is hard to find something to laugh about! Toby has been supplying those moments when we most needed them. Since he is losing his sight, he can not see the Frisbee flying through the air. We have not been playing with him because it is so sad to see that look of anticipaton on his face and then he isn't able to see that flying toy in the air! He was always so excited to be able to get that toy away from Mom and Dad.
During a wind storm a few weeks ago, a large ball found its way into our back yard! Toby was afraid of it at first, but now - it's "look out" ball, here comes Toby! It has taken several days of playing with it for Toby to figure out what he wants to do with that huge ball. For the last week we have laughed at his show! We have captured some of his playfulness on camera and would like to share them with you.
We hope you get a chuckle out of these pictures - seeing Toby in action is a lot better! We weren't fast enough to capture some of his best poses!
Bill helps Toby find the ball! Bill's head has been cut off - not intentionally - Toby was the focus! :):):)
Toby would really love to get his teeth into the ball and then run with it!
Okay, if he can't get it in his mouth and run with it, then he'll just push it around the yard!
What happens when the ball gets out of his reach? He barks and barks and barks - until someone pushes it back within his reach!
Sometimes Toby looks as if he is going to try and get on top of the ball!!!
Now this is the face of a "happy babee!" :):):):)
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