Life is an adventure! No, I really mean that. My life has been an exciting journey and hopefully, I’m only about halfway through it. Though, don’t think for a minute that I’m going to tell you my age. You’ll have to guess if the curiosity is just too much.
Fortunately for me, I’ve enjoyed many more years than my dogs have, and yet one of my loves is getting old. We aren’t exactly sure how old he is because both of our pups are re-homes, but I think he’s probably 8 years old or so. In dog years, he’s in the retirement zone.
Ricky’s hips haven’t worked well for a while now, and he must take medication every day to ease his pain so that he can walk. He also has seizures, the poor fellow, and has to take a pill for that every day as well. No big deal, right? Not so fast.
He also has the superpower nose all canines do and can sniff those pills out no matter how well I hide them. The normal methods for hiding involve his favorite treats—peanut butter and cheese. Usually, these methods work to get the dreaded pills down without a struggle, but sometimes he’s just not buying it. He’ll stare at my awesome creations and then just lay his head down beside the treat as if to say, “You’re kidding me, right? I’m not eating that.”
Of course, you know me. It makes me ponder about my relationship with the God of the universe. When God tries to give me medicine, do I sometimes stare at it as if to say, “You’ve got to be kidding me?”
Ricky and I often act similarly about taking in something that is good for us. I can turn my nose up at the good stuff, not realizing in the moment just how much it will help.
About six years ago, God brought a genuine character into my life, my husband, Tom. If you look up the word “opposites” in the dictionary, you might find yourself staring at a picture of the two of us. At least, if the dictionary were using examples of people, you would.
I am a serious introvert who enjoys quiet time with my thoughts. Sometimes, I’m just too serious. I get that. Tom is the exact opposite. An extrovert who finds something funny in many circumstances where others don’t and wants to share that hilarious discovery with anyone he’s near.
In case you don’t get the irony of this, most of the time, he wants to share his joy in life with his wife, but she struggles with her serious side. Fortunately, though, he’s no quitter. Sometimes I’m angry, frustrated, or sad, and he’ll find a way to make me laugh. He’s marvelous medicine… if I’ll only take it when I need it.
Proverbs 17:22 says it all. “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” God gives us humor as a salve to our souls. Better to laugh about it than cry sometimes.
I’m blessed to have married my medicine. Make sure you find yours because it’s good stuff.
Have something to add to this? I’d love to hear from you.