dog days of summer

"The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete." John 3:29

How are you surviving these "dog days of summer"?  Besides the saying defining the weather, it also correctly describes the status of my household.

With my daughter and her husband between Army duty stations, they needed temporary housing for their 2 indoor dogs.  Guess where they found it?  As parents do, we opened our arms and home to them.  But already having 2 dogs, doubling the dogs did not exactly double the joy for all.  While one joined us with little fuss, the other, well, let's just say living in solitary is a hard, sad thing for anyone to endure.

Changes in life and routines are met differently by people... and dogs. While one grand-doggie's attitude is oh!-i-love-new-friends and content, the other is i-don't-care-for-other-dogs and downcast. But one fact i know for sure, both of their joys will be completely restored when united with their parents.

Father, no matter where we are, whether we are going through the day in the company of others or alone, I pray the peace and comfort of belonging to You is enough to sustain us.  I am reminded, that on that glorious day, when we are finally united and home with You, our joy too will be complete. 

we are loved and chosen by God,
may we live like we believe it,
veneal