Lessons from Louis

This handsome boy was orphaned until he was rescued at about a year old. A survivor of Hurricane Harvey, he spent his days living amongst heaps of garbage in a landfill in Texas. Now, when I tell you that he is one of the sweetest and attentive dogs I’ve ever known, that isn’t an overstatement. In a moment of sadness, if I utter the faintest weep in preparation to cry, Louis comes to my rescue, every time. Even if he is in another room and senses that I am upset, he intentionally makes his way toward me with big brown concerned eyes, presses his tiny paws against me and with gentle kisses assures that everything will be okay.

"Time spent being loved and cared for by the Father changes us."

The reason Louis is so sweet is uncertain but we can assume that when he roamed the streets of Texas, he was most likely hungry and possibly uncomfortable or in pain. We can imagine him shivering in the cold torrential rains of the hurricane all alone and afraid. Maybe he is so affectionate because he remembers how difficult his life was before he found his fur-ever home and he simply is grateful. Maybe it’s because my husband spent a lot of time nurturing and loving him when he was finally adopted. Regardless of the cause, Louis' temperament serves as a reminder that time spent being loved and cared for by the Father changes us.

"After great devastation, people resiliently continue grow."

Amidst all that can be lost in the relentless storms of life, one thing that helps keep us afloat is holding onto the hope that no matter what happens, we will make it through. Don’t ever believe that you can not rise above your circumstance. Don’t allow yourself to adopt a mindset that keeps you a victim even after you've been rescued. If you grew up in a tumultuous home, that doesn't mean you can not live your days in peace. If you've faced financial ruin, that doesn't mean God won't still meet your daily needs. Circumstances can always be turned around. After great devastation, people resiliently continue grow. Even animals can recover after suffering and develop a gentle disposition. It’s not necessarily time that causes the transformation but quite often it is the love and care of others that brings out the best in us.

"Even though a terrible moment or season in our life can feel like it will cause our ruin, God is right there waiting to turn our mourning into joy."

The truth is, we live in a fallen, corrupt, morally decaying world and it will only get worse. We face struggles every day and the only hope of a perfect existence is in the life that is yet to come. A place we are undeservedly welcomed because Jesus Christ graciously paid the price for our entry with His shed blood. But if we chalk up this current life simply to being a waiting room to enter into the by and by, we’re missing the point. God didn’t only give us a way into heaven, He made it so that we could survive, better yet succeed, in the here and now.

"We were made to shine bright, created to reflect the Father’s glory and exemplify His love to the world."

Even though a terrible moment or season in our life can feel like it will cause our ruin, God is right there waiting to turn our mourning into joy. In times of dire pain, we can put our hope in Jesus, trusting that victory is possible and that our trials will be overcome. Nothing is ever too far gone and it is never too late to become a new version of who we once were. After all, we were made to shine bright, created to reflect the Father’s glory and exemplify His love to the world.