God has made huge changes in my life in the last 5 years. I, at times, have had a hard time keeping up with Him, and have tended to ask alot of questions when something would happen or He would tell me to do something. And in the last year, God has begun to deal with me along those lines. He has put a dear friend in my life who has challenged me on my questioning God.
When my friend first told me that I question God too much, I was a little offended. I didn't think that I did. But my friend wouldn't let up on me and kept telling me, "Don't be like Moses, Sherry. He kept questioning God and missed out on the blessing." Well, when my friend put it that way, I began to pay more attention when God told me to do something. I certainly did not want to miss out on any blessing that God wanted to bestow on me. So now, when anything happens in my life or God tells me to do something, the words, "Don't be like Moses, Sherry" resound in my ears.
Two things happened in my life this last month that I normally would have said to God, "Why, God, I don't understand." But because of my dear friend, I can now say, "Don't be like Moses, Sherry. I know there is a reason for this. All things work together for good to those who love Christ. And since I love Christ will all my heart, I know it is working for my good even though I can't see it."
The two events happened back to back, within 2 days of each other and they both were very difficult. The first event was the death of my son's dog, Shyloh. Jared and Shyloh basically grew up together as Shyloh came into Jared's life when Jared was 8 years old. Shyloh was an amazing dog. We raised him from 5 weeks old until he was 1 year to be a Leader Dog for the Blind. At 1 year we had to return him to the Leader Dog school to be trained and then assigned to a blind person. It was so hard to give him up but we knew it was for a greater purpose. After 5 months of training we received a phone call saying that it was discovered that Shyloh had arthritis and could not be assigned to a blind person. Would we like to have Shyloh to keep? Would we? You bet!
The very next day we drove 4 hours to the Leader Dog School to pick Shyloh up. He was going to be Jared's dog. When we arrived at the school we wondered if Shyloh would remember us. What a crazy question? When Shyloh was brought out to the waiting room to go home with us, he immediately raised up on his hind legs, put both paws on my shoulders and began to kiss my face all over! Yes, he definitely remembered us! What a wonderful memory! When we took Shy out to the car to begin the drive back home we opened the trunk to put in his dog bowl and Shy immediately jumped into the trunk. He was ready to go home no matter where he had to ride! What a wonderful memory!
We got him out of the trunk and opened the back seat door for him and Jared to climb in. Shy climbed in on the floor (all Leader Dogs are trained to ride on the floor of the car and are not allowed on the seat). Well, we decided Shy was now our dog and could ride home on the seat so Jared coaxed him up on the seat. As Jared rode home with Shy riding across his lap with a big smile on his face, Shy would not look at any of us in the car. We would talk to him but he refused to look at us, he was feeling quite guilty about riding on the seat and probably figured if he looked at us we'd make him get back on the floor. What a memory!
I still don't know why Shyloh died, but I do know that I don't want to be like Moses, so I'm not questioning God, just trusting that "All things work together for my good." And rejoicing that God has given me so many memories of Shyloh, a truly awesome dog that was a gift from God.
The second thing that happened was an event that God had used me to arrange, and I was so anticipating being a part of it. But, my participation was not to be. The event will still happen, but God closed the door on my participation in it. The first thought into my head (from Satan, of course) was Why, God? but at the same time I knew deep in my heart that there was a reason. I didn't know what the reason was, but I knew God was in control and I could trust Him. This past week I found out what the reason was and I so rejoiced in God's wisdom. He saw the entire picture and I only saw a portion of it. God is amazingly good to me, I give Him the glory!
Sometimes God shows us the "Why" and sometimes He doesn't. But God is truly teaching me to trust Him explicitly and to "not be like Moses".
