The Gift I Didn’t Know I Wanted

Periodically, I offer my house up to the Lord saying send who You will. Shortly after doing so in the fall of 2012,  unexpected guests showed up in the front yard. As one of my bonus daughters left the house she discovered two dogs under her car.  My thought, “Why does this happen to me?” Our cul-de-sac has numerous times been a dumping ground for unwanted dogs who somehow always migrate to my yard (neighborly blessing I expect) and I’ve spent countless hours looking for homes . . . donating funds to no-kill shelters to accept (not my) dogs . . .

Long story short, the girls convinced me to allow one of the dogs to  remain with us (the other ran off). I had recently put my big galute of a Weimeraner down and was not in the mood to have my heart broken again. I was happy with my 2 little dogs and didn’t want any more emotional attachments. They named the dog Ruwa (Hebrew for ear splitting sound of praise).

I consistently shoved Ruwa off on my daughter. I did not interact much with the dog and refused to open my heart to her.

For months this dog waited patiently always loving me with her eyes but meeting my outstretched hand to keep her at arms length.

She is THE most well behaved dog I’ve ever owned (no thanks to me). Her keen intelligence is impressive.

Mine, not so much. My attitude was ‘you’re welcome in my home but don’t expect to be my best friend.’

My excuses were stupid plentiful: ‘I don’t do long haired dogs, she’s your dog, I’m happy with my little dogs’.

Fast forward 2 years later, this dog has become my ever present shadow!

Somehow, she worked her way into my heart and rewards my acceptance with undying loyalty, respect and obedience.

She is ferocious without being aggressive,

cuddly without being cloying or obnoxious and her greatest desire is to

be… with…. me.

No matter what I am doing.

Isn’t this like God – long suffering, patient, filled with loving kindness? I almost lost out on a precious gift, sent by God to heal my heart and bring me something I didn’t know I needed.

A companion, a healer, a best friend.

A smile when I need cheering up!

I invited Him to send who He thought was best but because the gift was wrapped in an unexpected package I almost didn’t receive it!

Thank you God, for knowing me better than I know myself.

The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone ~ Psalm 118:22

Don’t reject the Lord’s gifts and miss out on the treasure!

He just wants to be with us!

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

What was the best unexpected gift you ever received?

shared on Home Acre Hop #94; Thriving Thursday and Thrifty Thursday and Country Fair Blog Hop