"P" is for puppy... and president...
and prayer.
Listen to this section here From the Apt Words Podcast Pocket of the Club — or read if you prefer.
It was my fault. How can you put a shivering, still soggy dog down when you've put him through the kitchen sink bath complete with warm rinse and wrapped him up in two towels and then held his shivering little self in your lap until he's fallen asleep? He has completely trusted this human to hold him and do only good.
We're accidental Shih Tzu owners. Parents? Puppy photos will do that to you. Three weeks into life with Rico, and I'm learning a lot. For one, his kind were bred for companionship and not much else. Maybe foot-warming, as long as a thousand years ago and given as gifts to visiting royalty. Perhaps a strategy to calm everyone down. How can anyone think of escalating trebuchet warfare with a pile of trusting fluff in their lap?
The bath reveals that his nearly 3.3-pound self looks a lot bigger when his fluff is puffed out. Wet? He looks a whole lot like a snub-nosed chihuahua, but don't tell him I said so. A pup's got to get his dignity somewhere.
Perhaps most remarkable to me was sitting in a chair for a full hour, no screens, no radio, just the sound of rain and the sleep breathing, as my husband kindly refers to it, of a little chrysanthemum-faced (that's what they call that puff of hair between the eyes that grows every direction and must be trimmed or pulled up into a topknot so they can see) little guy. Thankfully, we're still in puppy coat stage and have a few months before that becomes a conversation. I can see it now.
Me: You want the bow or the thinning scissors?
Rico: How about a mohawk?
Of course, being a member of the Gillham tribe, this pup already has his own theme music. My version goes something like this: My name is Rico, el perrito. I'm a famous futbolista. I love to chew on your shoes and anything that has a string.
And the Elder Gillhams have developed a whole new way to talk to each other, in Rico's voice. So, yes, could a branded Instagram account go viral? Possibly. But with this pup on hand, we're chilling out, sitting.
No screens, no escalating anything. It's good.
Praises
Blackberry plants are beginning to bloom!
Spring rains bring beautiful lush grass and green everything. Spring sunshine makes it glow.
‘Tis the graduation season! Praise God for education and for young people expanding their minds and discipline and horizons!
Recording is underway for the audio version of Nanci Lamborn’s latest book: Angry Daughter. She picked me! Yay.
Prayers
For wisdom raising a pup (who is in piranha stage)—how God must laugh. He knows the drill.
A friend recovering from knee surgery.
A mother asks for mercy upon her son who needs surgery that insurance has denied twice.
A family is in crisis. (God knows the circumstances).
For all those in authority.
Quests
“There’s probably two things that we’re never going to agree on. We’re probably never going to agree on what my duty was under the Constitution on January 6. And I’m never going to stop praying for you.” The speaker? Vice President Mike Pence. He was recounting a conversation that took place with President Trump as they prepared to hand over the administration to incoming President Biden. Trump answered, “That’s right Mike, don’t ever change.” Pence continued, “We have prayed for him often in the months and years that have followed.”
This showed up in my last night’s reading of the latest edition of Christianity Today. Russell Moore, Editor in Chief of the magazine (and not a fan of the 47th president) provides a thoughtful discussion with Pence about global tensions, prayer for those in authority, and Mrs. Pence’s frosty reception of President Trump. Click here to read the full article. (Note: I am a subscriber, therefore this link works for me. I hope it works for everyone).
It is the one magazine I read cover to cover, every time.
Until next week,
May we exercise any authority we’re granted with great care—and prayer.
With love,
Jana
P.s. — just for fun and to see who is still reading, the first person to ask for it in a comment gets the gift of a year-long subscription to Christianity Today— from me to thee!
And—sadly this offer is only possible for readers in the U.S and Canada—but that covers the great majority of you.
Cheers!
J
Good article!
Enjoyed this! I'll have to look into Christianity Today. I've heard good things about it.