My husband affectionately refers to it as “The Freak Show”. The state of pandemonium experienced raising seven rambunctious boys into teenagers before our very eyes. Toys, bikes, basketballs and scooters littered the yard. Believe me when I tell you laundry and dishes seemed never-ending.
Absolutely everything was a competition at our house, from Marco Polo to Settlers of Catan, and the open kitchen floor hosted daily wrestling matches to solidify one’s place in the teenage pecking order.
Amid the unending chaos, I had the brilliant idea that we needed a puppy. I’d like to pause right here and blame this notion on back pain medication. Clearly it’s a decision I should have pondered for longer.
Hannah arrived on scene and fit right in with her playful puppy attitude and love of games. If I could have looked ahead to see the kind of dog she would be, I likely would have named her Houdini or Frank Morris. Alas, we were not privy to such foresight.
Throughout her life, Hannah was well known for her ability to quietly weasel out of the house inconspicuously as a door hesitated to close, or skillfully escape our best attempts at backyard confinement.
One day, I returned home to a voicemail from the lady at the bank. A customer had reported a small dog walking alone down the middle of the road in our village. The dog was wearing a collar with a fairly long chain trailing behind. Attached at the other end of the chain was a curly anchor stake, the kind you corkscrew into your lawn to detain your pet. Embarrassing? Wait, I’m not done yet.
Somehow caught up in the chain /spiral contraption were a G.I. Joe army jeep, various sandbox pails and shovels and Cam’s scooter. Hannah was proudly (and I suspect loudly) parading down the centre of the main street for all to see dragging everything but the kitchen sink it seemed. It was quite a scene.
Maybe if she had worn a large nametag that said “Criss Angel – escape artist” local residents would have been more understanding.
Sometimes, I’m like Hannah. I try to lug around all the mistakes and bad choices I have made in the past. They’re noisy and often I can let them distract me and fill my thoughts. Believe me, that’s a heavy, heavy chain to drag.
But listen, sister, that’s not truth. My past doesn’t determine who I am today. God says that I’m forgiven and he chooses to forget my sin. So why would I want to keep it in tow?
I’m thankful that God has his own names for us. He knows us intimately. He knows every thought I’ve ever had and everything I’ve ever done and yet he calls me his daughter. I love the sound of that name.
But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12
♥ Tess
When I came back to the Lord I clung to 2 Corinthians 5:17: This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life has gone; a new life has begun!
And this is an ongoing process for me every day. Many years ago I heard a sermon discussing the scripture passage that says that God has a new name for each of us. I have debated with myself many times what that name could be. At the end of the service the pastor asked us to tell the person sitting next to us what name we thought that God called us. I had no idea. And then I decided that He calls me Forgiven. This is not perfect though because once we are forgiven our sin is totally removed from God’s presence. I think that daughter is a much better name. Is there any sweeter name than that?
So very true Tess!!! Love your writings!!!
Oh Tess, you have a gift…loved this one…thanks so much for being part of my day. I get lessons I would have missed, otherwise! ♥
Hannah was a great part of my life and she always knew how to make me feel happy
Beautiful reminder of God’s unconditional love for us. Funny story about Hannah – sweet pup. The funny thing about our little furry family members, is that they love us unconditionally too. Woof!