All Things Joyful with Alexa Balsiger

My dog, Bella, is the delight of my life. I am not a human mom (yet, hopefully), and never thought I’d be that crazy dog mom, but here we are with me rocking all the cool “dog mom” apparel and I love it. Bella was born March 17, 2020 and came home May 9, 2020, so do the math, and yep, she’s a covid pup. During lockdown, I got to go visit her and it was the only way I could see see some of my friends (socially distanced, what a weird time of life) and cuddle this sweet pup I fell in love with real quick. I went back to work the week Bella came home and so my dad did a ton of training with her and taught her cute little tricks and commands that she’s still devoted to following.

Bella knows not to beg for food, but she also knows she’s always going to get a little bite before I finish eating. I have this thing where I always say (in squeaky dog mom voice of course), “I’ve never forgotten you before, I’m not going to now.” as she sits there. She was trained (thanks, Dad) to sit for a treat so whenever she sees that I’m eating, she instantly sits. If I’m not ready to share, she scoots a little closer so I see her sitting (it’s adorable). She’s doing everything I’ve asked, it’s just not time for the food yet.

Today as I was eating lunch and I said in my squeaky mom voice, “Bella, I’ve never forgotten you before, I’m not going to now”, I was hit with this realization that the Lord loves me so much more than I love Bella and He’s probably saying those same things to me. How often am I like Bella, following what feels like the right directions, trying to be obedient, waiting on Him to come through. He tells us time and again in His word that He hasn’t forgotten His people and that He’ll never leave or forsake us. I’ve used those verses to cling to so many times, but today, Bella reminded me in a new way.

I’ve been through this dark season lately, begging the Lord to intervene and do something, and today, I heard the whisper, of His gentle reminder. He’s never forgotten me, He won’t now. I don’t have to sit and obey to get His favor, I just get to be His daughter, secure in knowing He loves me and is fighting for me. Just like Bella’s time to get her piece of food isn’t always soon enough for her, God’s timing doesn’t always feel soon enough for me. As much as I want Bella to trust me, how silly for me to not trust the Lord’s timing. He’s infinitely more trustworthy and has proven that infinite times.

As ridiculous as my love for Bella sometimes is (especially in the eyes of non dog lovers), it doesn’t hold a candle to the crazy love the Father has for me. I can rest in confidence that He’s taking care of me, He’s got me, He’s never letting go, or forgetting about me.