#walk – Tattoos, Motorcycles, Beer, Bourbon and Faith

Last week, our youngest dog, Bailey, had to have surgery to repair a cruciate ligament injury. Yes, I know she is a dog. Yes, I know the surgery is expensive. While people have been very supportive in their responses to this information, I know there are some who are probably wondering why we would invest so much in a dog. I will answer that question later.

Bailey, after one of her many doctor’s appointments to find out what was ailing her. We were getting a pup cup.

We had to drop Bay off for surgery on Tuesday morning. I will admit that I almost cried leaving her at MedVet Pittsburgh, but I knew Dr. Snow and her staff would take great care of her. I also knew if Bailey was going to return to her active level of exuberance, joy, and craziness (I call her Crazy Train), this surgery was absolutely necessary. Bailey is one of our hiking/backpacking dogs. Since her injury, including her inability to take long walks, let alone hike, she has been visibly depressed. (yes, doggie depression is a real thing). And she had to stay overnight.

Fortunately, we spent Tuesday evening at our son’s house, having dinner and then doing a little shopping for home improvements with him. That kept my mind off of Bailey, who, by that time, had come through surgery with flying colors but was in ICU recovery for the night. The team sent us pictures of her following her surgery and called with updates. She was monitored throughout the night. They would call in the morning, letting us know when we could pick her up.

By Wednesday morning, both my husband and I were ready to get Bay. And her canine siblings were beside themselves with worry. They had no idea why we left with Bailey and then returned without her. Each dog thoroughly searched and searched the house and vehicles for her, to no avail.

She was quite tired when she first came home

Dr. Snow called by 8:30 a.m., and we picked Bailey up at 10 a.m. We had thorough training on what to expect, how to care for her post-surgery, when to administer her medications, and even how to help with rehabilitation and administer PT. We were told that she was the best patient they had ever had. I’m not surprised. She is such a good dog.

Tux, the cat, checking on her black and white sister

Because she needed to wear an e-collar whenever she was not monitored, we made every effort to be with her. She has been with us 24/7 since she came home. We have even adjusted how we sleep so that she does not have to wear the cone of shame. My husband and I have taken to sleeping on an air mattress on the floor with her between us. We split our time during the day, so she is never alone. And our other dogs are so happy that she is back in the pack. I think they even know that she is recovering and are quite gentle with her.

I share all of this because this is what love looks like in our family. And the dogs, all of them, including our sons’ dogs, are part of our family. Love looks like doing what is best for another in need (including your dog). Love looks like distracting your mom, so she doesn’t worry. Love looks like sleeping on the floor. Love looks like the treats that your own mother brought over for the recovering patient and her siblings. Love looks like the phone calls we got checking on Bailey. You can find love everywhere if you look. It’s not too hard to see love in action.

Love looks like a lot of different things to a lot of different people. But what real, true, unconditional love really looks like is Christ on the cross dying for the sins of all. You and me, even those who don’t yet know Him and even those who don’t want to know Him [but Jesus hopes (as do I) that they will come to].

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

So today, show some love to someone else. It can be a kind word, a phone call, an invitation, a hug, an email, a text, a meal, a note, or your time. It can be a hello to a stranger, a wave to your neighbor, giving the old lady your seat, or letting the frantic young man ahead of you in line. Love is limitless. And today, show me some love; please pray for me. I will continue to pray for you.

Anyone who knows me well knows that a daily workout is a serious part of my life. In fact, my husband can tell the days that I do not workout. I am much grouchier on those days. This is true. I know that and I accept that and I try desperately to work out every day. It is just good for my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. And it is just good for the general well-being of others who have to deal with me.

Unfortunately, shoulder surgery has ground my exercise routine to a screeching halt. There is little I can do, other than walk. Depending on the speed and incline, that can even be a challenge. I have started PT, which is primarily assisted PT, but have been told it will be quite some time before I am cleared for other exercises (ie. weight training). Insert big sigh here.

I have lost quite a bit of muscle since surgery

And while my exercise has suffered these last few weeks, my prayer life has flourished. I have had ample time to talk with God, and on some occasions, I may have yelled at Him. My day starts with the Bible app, including the verse of the day and a guided prayer. It continues with reading portions of the bible then a devotional reading (I am currently doing a 21-day devotional on Psalm 91). At one point in my life, I did attend daily morning mass. My current job does not permit that, but does allow me to participate in morning prayer. However, as I am recovering, I am working remotely. I am not permitted to drive while arm is in the sling. Then throughout the day, it may include a rosary, the divine mercy chaplet, and other prayers. But those aren’t always part of my day.

I was reading a reflection that talks about how we take so much in our lives for granted, that we forget to thank God for the little things. Like the ability to work out, a run in the crisp air right before dawn, a walk through nature, watching the sunrise, spending time with our spouse, our families, our friends. But we also take our faith for granted. The things that we think will always be readily available to us.

Hiking/backpacking is one of my favorite activities

We need to thank God for those things because we may not always be able to work out, run or walk. Someday, we may lose our eyesight. Our spouse, our families, and our friends may not always be around. And our faith is just something that I think we tend to forget about or overlook. I often treat my faith as an afterthought. We fail to attend mass because we’re tired or don’t care for the priest, or don’t want to be bothered. Or maybe we don’t go because we are mad at the Catholic Church (this has happened a lot lately and this is when we need to pray the most). We don’t pray because we don’t have time or don’t think God really hears us. When we do this, when we make excuses; we take our faith for granted. We don’t feed it; we don’t give it an opportunity to grow. And that is really when we need prayer the most.

Looking forward to the backpacking adventures that await us in 2023

It spoke to me because I do take all of those things for granted. I expect to come home everyday and work out. I expect to be able to run on the treadmill whenever I feel so inspired, or take the dogs for walk at a whim. I expect to see the sunrise each morning. I expect that my husband will be there to go on adventures with me. I expect that my family will always be around and that my friends will be available when I most need them. And I expect God to be there always, even when I haven’t talked to him in a very long time. And even though I take my faith for granted, the really beautiful thing is that God will always be there. Especially when we think He isn’t.

So today take time to thank God, be grateful for everything in your life and don’t take anything for granted. And today, please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you.

Tag: #walk

What Does Love Look Like?

Taken for Granted