December 21st, after weeks of researching and processing, I threw it to the wind to rescue a dog from a rural kill shelter. Wisest thing to do? No. But, we brought Jasmine home that evening. One less dog died that night. I knew that I could trust the process. She wasn’t a dominant dog, nor was she fearful of everything and everyone. I could sense her sweetness and confidence, but – as with all living things – we have a journey from trauma to healing. She has been adapting okay to 5 cats and 2 active kids. But, at the beginning of February we got her spayed. Then, she began to go down an unwelcome road. So, a friend encouraged me to teach out to Guy Santiago: https://www.instagram.com/honormypaws/
Gratefulness
There were many gifts Guy brought with him that night. Jasmine is a good dog with a good foundation. I get to practice my love and leadership skills with her. Low and behold – a dog’s greatest challenge is that they need to learn that which is important, not urgent. They need to learn how to prioritize. How do we teach this? Rewards, words of affirmation, love. This was a very profound moment for me. Of course I get a dog that calls me to a unique level of training – how to differentiate between urgent and important. She also is teaching me how to love in the present.
Reward
Golly, that word has somewhat of a negative connotation to me. “I should do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.” If there’s a reward, then I am lucky. I am not pure-hearted or walking in integrity, so my inner conversation wonders: “What if I had a healthy relationship with the concept of reward?” Yes, Hebrews 11:6: “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that he proves to be the one who rewards those who seek him”. Faith – the ability to trust. Do I trust an unseen God that He will reward me for seeking Him? Is that truly okay to believe that?
Another thing about reward that I learned from Guy was that it does not mean unhealthy treats. He uses high quality dog food that will nourish Jasmine. He also encouraged me to feed her in unique ways:
- From my hand.
- Through a game.
- Through encouragement.
These are the tools to convey what behaviors are needed to be part of a peaceful community. Jasmine wants to do good. I get to teach her how and to feel safe. Do I have enough confidence to eat from my Lord’s hand? Can the definition of reward be healed so that I receive delicious, healthy food that satisfies my body, soul and spirit?
Today I practiced walking with Jasmine with some new choices. There was joy for me and joy for her.
More lessons to come. But I am glad I risked bringing this animal home. We both are building our capacity for trust and for love.
