For October 17th:

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:

Trust and Obey

I work in Nashville at a downtown location for the state of Tennessee.  We have to park in an assigned parking lot and it is approximately 6 blocks up a steep hill from the parking lot to the building.  This past Monday, I was walking up the hill and I was met by a fellow employee and a local resident walking towards my direction.  As I approached them, I noticed a small puppy following them.  It was the cutest and most playful little fellow.  He was black and had long floppy brown ears and the most charming bright eyed adorable face and was so happy.  Naturally, being an animal lover, I stopped and commented about how cute he was and asked what his name was.  To my surprise, they both told me that the dog was a stray and they saw someone put him out on the street.  He had followed them up the hill and they were trying to get him to stay away from the busy road.  He was so trusting and followed us all the way up the hill to the building.  When we arrived, we went in and asked the security guard if we could bring him in and call the animal rescue to get him some help.  Thank goodness, there was a person at the desk that worked with rescue animals and saw this precious sweet little puppy and called her son and adopted him on the spot. 

What struck me about this situation is how trusting that little puppy was.  He trusted to follow us and to be taken care of and to be helped.  When reflecting about the events that my family has endured over the last year with my sister’s cancer diagnosis, surgery and treatment, and my brother’s relocation to Texas, and my recent relocation to Nashville and wondering why and how to get through all the busyness of the days; that I needed to be more like that sweet little puppy.  I need to trust and put my faith in God and his plan and say thank you for the many blessings I have shared with my family this past year.  What a wonderful gift to start the work week.  Thank you, Dear God.

Mary Katherine Fortner