by Sandy Kirby Quandt

If you follow Woven and Spun, then you know our dog, Bear, died March 31, 2017. Pilot and I have told ourselves we won’t think about getting a new puppy for at least six months. We remind ourselves of this promise almost daily. Both of us miss Bear terribly, and I don’t think it would take much for us to jump at the chance to adopt another dog. No. This isn’t a pathetic plea for someone to drop a dog on our doorstep. Please. Don’t do that.

If you are a dog person, you understand. If you aren’t, think of something you love almost as much as the dearest thing in your life, and you’ll get an idea of what I’m talking about.

I told myself I wouldn’t devote anymore blogs to talking about Bear, but that’s what I’m doing today.

It seems everywhere I look there is a dog walking down the street, riding in a car, featured in a commercial, or up for adoption through the local pet rescues.

Friends have offered to let us visit their dogs, but that’s just not the same. You know?

I’ve found my sadness over Bear’s death has opened a door for Satan to steal my joy.

I know it’s okay to mourn and grieve. I know that. What I’m trying to avoid is allowing that grief to steal my joy and keep me from enjoying all the good things God provides each day.

As I drove around running errands last Friday, almost every car I pulled next to or behind had a dog in it. That just made me miss Bear more, until the tears flowed freely down my cheeks. During that time of sadness, God placed a song on the radio to chase those blues away. I’m sharing that song with you today in the hopes it will spark a little joy in your life.

Remember … joy and happiness are not the same thing. Joy comes from the deepest places of our heart, and is put there by our Creator God.

We may forget joy resides in us sometimes, or we may allow the world to suppress it, but that doesn’t mean our joy isn’t there; regardless of our outward situations.

When we dwell on God’s joy, our troubles lessen, and so do our sorrows. Plus, it leaves little room for Satan to weasel his way in and rob us.

How do you keep your joy bubbling to the top?

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 And now—all glory to him who alone is God, who saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord; yes, splendor and majesty, all power and authority are his from the beginning; his they are and his they evermore shall be. And he is able to keep you from slipping and falling away, and to bring you, sinless and perfect, into his glorious presence with mighty shouts of everlasting joy. Amen. Jude 1:24-25 (TLB)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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