Seeing the Unseen

My brother's dog, Dixie

Dad's dog, Rolie

As many of you know, my family and I are allowed to live with four dogs in their house. Yes, you read this correctly, their house. It's pretty chaotic at times, especially when someone pulls into the driveway or the driveway across the street, but it's home.

 

 

Delilah and her Magic Carpet

My grandma's dog, Luv

My dog is Delilah. I became Delilah's human sophomore year of high school when she was a little over a year old. Since then (when I'm home) we are inseparable. I sleep in her bed and she even lets me have a corner of the blanket... sometimes.

 

 

The first time Delilah and I were apart for a long amount of time was when I went to Governor's School. I was gone 4 weeks and if you saw the way Delilah greeted me when I came home you would have thought I was gone 4 years!

 

 

 Since I've gone to college, I've been away from my dog for longer than four weeks, usually an entire semester. But every time I come home, Delilah is right there at the door waiting. The day I moved back after this past Spring semester, my mom sent me a picture of Delilah waiting at the door. Now, I can't say that she was waiting specifically for me (she was probably watching the kids across the street) but I like to think she was waiting just for me.

 

In less than a week I will leave for Uganda and be away for 5 weeks. Delilah doesn't seem to know and has enjoyed riding shotgun with me everywhere while I've been home.

 

Today I began packing for Uganda and as usual, Delilah has watched from my, I mean, her bed. She knows something is up and I wish I could take her with me. I'm sure she would love to investigate what exactly is a hippo?

 

 

At times, our relationship with God is similar to the relationship between Delilah and I. Delilah does not know that I'll be gone five weeks. She just knows that I'm preparing to leave. But she somehow knows that I'll be back because she knows from previous times I've been gone for too long, I return.

 

We don't always know what lies ahead on the path God leads us, we just know we have to trust Him because He knows where the next speed bump is, the next curve is and the next mountain is. If we trust Him and let Him guide our steps, we'll be sure to slow down at the speed bump, ease around the curve and have the strength to make it up and over the mountain.

 

Psalm 119:35 "Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight."

 

It's hard for some people to trust completely in God. Many say, "Seeing is believing" and well, we can't see God in human form until we go to heaven. We can see God in everyday things like a beautiful sunrise, a gentle rain shower, the smile of a child, a loved pet greeting you when you get home. There are numerous places to see God throughout your day, you just have to let Him show you His masterpiece and you can begin by looking in the mirror.

 

Psalm 139:14 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

 

 

I don't know what's going to happen in Uganda. I know I am going for 5 weeks as an intern with H.E.A.L. Ministries. I know I will be working with children of all ages as well as women who are mothers, daughters, grandmothers, sisters, aunts and friends. But I don't know how God is going to use me to make a difference, even a tiny one, in the world. I don't know how He is going to use the people I meet to make a difference in my world. I know that in both worlds a difference will be made, I just don't know how.