I’m not a dog person. I’m not an anti-dog person either. I have just never wanted one of my own. Over the years when my children have mentioned the family “getting a dog,” I skillfully averted that idea. Dogs are a lot of responsibility and I didn’t need any more of that! They have to go to the vet and the groomer. They have to be trained. They have to be walked. They need to eat. And they never learn to use the toilet. So, while I’m okay with people who have them, many years ago I realized I wasn’t a dog person and thus we were not a dog family.
Earlier this year, as Briya’s birthday began to roll around, I had what I believed could only be an ungodly thought: to get her a puppy. It was exactly a year prior, on her actual birthday, when NC’s governor issued a stay-at-home order. She had been in the house for a year with no social interaction and maybe a puppy would be a good companion, this thought reasoned. Since I already knew that this was not a good idea (especially since we are not a dog family), I asked my oldest daughter Nya what she thought, so that she could affirm that my idea was a bad one. To my surprise, she responded that it was a “good” idea! Disappointed by her response, I went to my husband, Armeer, who thought it was not just a good idea, but a “great” idea. The people in my life who should have told me “no” or “not now” had failed me! So for Briya’s birthday, we brought home SamSam!
One evening, while trying to be a good puppy family, we rolled the ball to each other playing “keep away” with SamSam. Suddenly, he jumped up, zoomed across Briya’s chest, grabbed the ball, and ran in circles around the house! We laughed. I mean, we really laughed. As I leaned on my side from laughing so hard, I glanced up and it was at that very moment that I realized that I didn’t remember the last time that we laughed together. It had been such a difficult season that we needed to laugh, but I didn’t even realize that we hadn’t been laughing. And even if I had known, I wouldn’t have known how to make it happen since not a lot seemed funny at the time.
For the past five months, SamSam has brought some things to our family that I didn’t expect. In some cases, these were things I didn’t know that we needed, like laughter. The Lord used something I didn’t want, to give me something that I did want. He used a method that I resisted to answer some prayers. And while I had hoped for a companion for Briya, God exceeded my expectations, and “my buddy” has been a blessing to the entire family.
This is not a plug to go get a puppy. Puppies are a lot of work. But I do wonder if God has some answers to your prayers in places you don’t expect or unexpected blessings in places you are resisting because they are counter to your personality, comfort, or convenience. When Elisha told Naaman to go to the Jordan river and dip seven times to be healed from leprosy, Naaman was initially angry and offended. After being encouraged by his servants, he did what Elisha said and was healed. (2 Kings 5:1-14). What are you being encouraged to do even though it may be offensive, seemingly unnecessary, uncomfortable, or inconvenient? Is there someone outside of your friend group who you’ve thought about reaching out to even though it doesn’t seem like a person you would enjoy spending time with? Should you take a class or get a certification that you really don’t think is necessary, but the idea keeps surfacing? Should you participate in that book club or Bible study that you really don’t have time or interest in doing? Is it time to leave a place of convenience and try something new? Like with Naaman and the Jordan River or me and SamSam, God may use the very thing that you don’t want to do or the very people who you don’t want to engage with, to bring healing and unexpected blessing in your life. Be open to the method and then receive the Unexpected.
Oh my! Speaking directly to a seeking heart. God is callings us to do this very thing in this time. Awesome! My heart is overjoyed!
Thanks Tharesa. Happy you have found an answer to help!
This just Blessed me! I’m open to the Unexpected, waiting on God! I can visualize SamSam so excited, He finally got his chance to interact with his family and he was gonna make a home run!😄😂🤣
Thanks Ida. Glad this helps you to Expect the Unexpected!
All I can say is “LORD HELP ME”. Confirmation, confirmation, confirmation. This article spoke to some areas where Holy Spirit has been nudging me. God Bless You! SamSam is adorable but I ain’t ready.
Hey Keisha. Thankful this is confirmation for you! I know! I wasn’t ready either!
WOW!!!!!!! Just, WOW!!!!
Powerful
Thanks Bomi! I appreciate your enthusiasm!
Incredible and challenging.
Thank you. Will lean in.
(Fabulous – TRULY fabulous- pic, by the way!)
Incredible and challenging.
Thank you. Will lean in.
(Fabulous – TRULY fabulous- pic, by the way!)
[And – by the way, I’m not a dog person either, even though I have one. I say I’m a “Grace” person. So, you’re a SamSam person … and it’s Okay. 😎]
Thanks Fuller! Glad you approve of the pic! That means a lot coming from a professional photographer! I do like Grace too!
Tara, THANK YOU. Praise God for your obedience to write and share this post. Your words are challenging me in 3 different areas.
Thanks Jess. Praying that you will have the grace to move forward as you are led.
Sometimes I just laugh. God has a good sense of humor. He will gracefully bless you in ways you can’t explain “Why Lord?”. That’s His loving grace.
Absolutely June!! Thankful for His grace!
Hey Tara! I just LOVE this !! It delights me to see GOD do what only HE can in our lives. Who would have thought that this cute little puppy would bring so much joy. I LOVE it! And you got the cutest one out there, too. Is your daily devotional available? How can I subscribe? LOVE YOU SIS 🙂
Hey Rhonda! I definitely didn’t associate the puppy with joy! No daily devotional yet!
Unexpected…. what a challenge!! Fitting word for this season…. Thank you for sharing “Be open to the method and then receive the Unexpected”!
Thanks for sharing, you all are a wonderful family for SamSam – Father God always know what we need and surely He answers our prayers